Comparing Awake Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia and General Anesthesia for Thoracotomy Surgery A Randomized Controlled Treatment Study

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to compare awake thoracic epidural anesthesia with general anesthesia for patients undergoing thoracotomy, a major chest surgery. The study addresses the high incidence of chronic pain after thoracotomy, which is often linked to severe acute postoperative pain. Effective pain management is crucial for these patients, and while thoracic epidural analgesia is commonly used alongside general anesthesia, its use as the sole anesthesia method in major thoracic surgery is rare. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either awake thoracic epidural anesthesia before surgery or general anesthesia during thoracotomy. These two approaches are being studied to evaluate their impact on patient outcomes during and after surgery. During the study, researchers will assess changes in lung function 24 hours after surgery as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include heart rate and blood pressure during surgery, pain levels, opioid use, timing of first rescue pain medication, and the occurrence of any side effects within 48 hours postoperatively. The study will monitor participants closely through surgery and the immediate recovery period to gather this data.

Awake Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia Versus General Anesthesia in Thoracotomy