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Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:1100-1104
© 2000 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Supplement: cardiothoracic techniques & technologies

Pain is significantly reduced by cryoablation therapy in patients with lateral minithoracotomy

^a Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heartcenter, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

Address reprint requests to Dr Bucerius, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heartcenter, University of Leipzig, Russenstrasse 19, D-04289 Leipzig, Germany
e-mail: bucerj{at}medizin.uni-leipzig.de

Presented at the Sixth Annual Cardiothoracic Techniques and Technologies Meeting 2000, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Jan 27–29, 2000.

Background. In minimally invasive cardiac surgery use of a lateral minithoracotomy is associated with early postoperative rehabilitation but also relatively high pain levels during the first 3 postoperative days. Cryoablation therapy was evaluated prospectively.

Methods. From April 1999 until September 1999, 57 patients underwent lateral minithoracotomy for mitral valve operation (n = 18) or minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 39). Intraoperatively, patients were randomly assigned to cryoablation or intercostal application of local anesthetic agents. A standardized questionnaire was used for prospective pain assessment on postoperative days 1 to 7.

Results. From postoperative day 1 to 7 pain levels declined in all groups. Overall pain levels were significantly lower in the cryo group than in the control group (p < 0.0001, GLM). According to diagnoses, pain levels were significantly lower after MIDCABG and cryo versus control; after mitral valve operation they were lower in the cryo group and almost reached significance.

Conclusions. Cryoablation is easy to perform and leads to a significant reduction in pain and lower request for additional pain medication after lateral minithoracotomy in minimally invasive cardiac operation.

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