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

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 I 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. (Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:1100-4) (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.