Ipsilateral Shoulder Pain After Thoracotomy with Epidural Analgesia: The Influence of Phrenic Nerve Infiltration with Lidocaine

Abstract

Ipsilateral shoulder pain after thoracotomy is common and may be severe, even in the presence of a functioning thoracic epidural. We have shown that infiltration of the phrenic nerve with local anesthetic significantly and safely reduces this shoulder pain, potentially allowing the ideal goal of a pain-free thoracotomy.