Pasha-Cath® in the treatment of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome

Abstract

Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome is a chronic pain syndrome and is seen in approximately 5-65% of patients after thoracotomy. Post-thoracotomy pain syndrome is generally considered to be neuropathic pain due to intercostal nerve injury. A 21- year-old male patient experienced pain radiating along the incision after the thoracotomy operation. Allodynia and hyperalgesia were determined in the upper part of the incision; visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 10. Gabapentin and amitriptyline were started as medical treatment. Three months later, the patient complained of concentration difficulty at work and in daily life. Medical therapy was planned again. In view of the persisting complaints, epidural pulse radio frequency with Pasha-Cath was scheduled. After 3 weeks and also at 3 months, the VAS was 2. After 6 months, VAS remained at 2. As a result, we concluded that epidural pulse radio frequency with Pasha-Cath is an alternative and effective choice of treatment in post-thoracotomy pain syndrome when the medical treatment alone is not sufficient.