JOURNAL HOME CME HOME THIS MONTH PAST ISSUES ETOC COLLECTIONS
AUTHORS REVIEWERS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK RSS HELP
A&A International Anesthesia Research Society
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a colleague
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Byas-Smith, M. G.
Right arrow Articles by Gulati, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Byas-Smith, M. G.
Right arrow Articles by Gulati, A.
Related Collections
Right arrow Regional Anesthesia
Right arrow Technology

Anesth Analg 2006;103:1033-1035
© 2006 International Anesthesia Research Society
doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000237290.68166.c2

ANALGESIA

Ultrasound-Guided Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation

Michael G. Byas-Smith, MD*, and Amitabh Gulati, MD{dagger}

From the *Department of Anesthesiology and {dagger}Section of Pain Management, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Michael G. Byas-Smith, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1364 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322. Address e-mail to Michael.Byas-Smith{at}emory.org.

Abstract

Ultrasound technology has advanced regional anesthesia and pain management, by improving accuracy and reducing complication rates. We have successfully performed cryoablation of intercostal nerves with ultrasound guidance with no complications. Four patients with postthoracotomy pain syndrome had pain relief for at least 1 mo after selective cryoablation of intercostal nerves at the mid-axillary line. Visualizing the pleura during the procedure is the greatest benefit of using ultrasonography, especially in thin patients whose intercostal groove to pleural distance may be <0.5 cm. Although further studies are needed, we feel that this new technique should reduce the risk of pneumothorax as well as improve the success of cryoablation.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
E. H. Williams, C. G. Williams, G. D. Rosson, R. F. Heitmiller, and A. L. Dellon
Neurectomy for treatment of intercostal neuralgia.
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2008; 85(5): 1766 - 1770.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999 HighWire Press
Copyright © 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society.