Analysis of the effectiveness of intrapleural analgesia after minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting on a beating heart

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of intrapleural analgesia (IPA) for pain relief after minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery on a beating heart. Methods: We prospectively studied 35 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting on a beating heart through a mini thoracotomy access on the left. Patients were divided into two groups: group I received IPA with a catheter (n=16) and group II patients were not introduced intrapleural analgesia (n=19). Postoperative pain was assessed according to the visual analogue scale (VAS), consumption of analgesics, extubation time, arterial blood gas parameters. Adequacy of respiration and lung ventilation were estimated by electrical impedance tomography. Results: Extubation time after surgery did not differ in both groups. Arterial oxygen partial pressure was higher (p