Interpleural Analgesia

The interpleural analgesic technique was first described by Reiestad et al. for the treatment of acute postoperative pain.. This technique is believed to enable the spread of injected medication to reach multiple intercostal nerves using a single interpleural injection site. Stromskag and colleagues suggest that after the medication is injected into the interpleural space, it spreads to the intercostal nerves in a retrograde fashion. Therefore, the technique of interpleural analgesia is best suited for thoracic and abdominal pain. When used appropriately, this analgesic modality improves pain control, reduces opioid consumption, and in specific situations may even improve pulmonary function.