Propensity score-matched outcomes after thoracic epidural or paravertebral analgesia for thoracotomy

It is not known which regional analgesic technique is most effective or safest after open lung resection. We retrospectively examined outcomes in 828 patients who received thoracic epidural analgesia and 791 patients who received paravertebral block after lung resection between 2008 and 2012. We analysed outcomes for 648 patients, 324 who had each analgesic technique, matched by propensity scores generated with peri-operative data. There were 22 out of 324 (7%) postoperative respiratory complications after thoracic epidural and 23 out of 324 (7%) after paravertebral block, p = 0.88. For any postoperative complication, there were 80 out of 324 (25%) and 78 out of 324 (24%) complications, respectively, p = 0.85. There were 17 out of 324 (5%) re-admissions to intensive care after thoracic epidural and 17 out of 324 (5%) after paravertebral block, p > 0.99, and the number of deaths before discharge were 6 out of 324 (2%) and 4 out of 324 (1%), respectively, p = 0.53. There was no significant difference in median (IQR [range]) hospital stay after thoracic epidural or paravertebral block, 6 (5-9 [2-94]) days vs. 6 (5-9 [2-122]), respectively, p = 0.83. Our study suggests that rates of complications as well as length of hospital stay after thoracic epidural analgesia and paravertebral blockade are similar. We were unable to compare analgesic efficacy due to incomplete data.