Continuous Thoracic Paravertebral Block as Perioperative Analgesia for Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract

Until the mid-1990s, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass in conjunction with the induction of ischemic cardiac arrest (on-pump CABG).1  On-pump CABG has been considered as the standard approach as it allows for precise vascular anastomoses without cardiac motion or hemodynamic compromise. To circumvent the complications associated with bypass circuit and cross-clamping of the aorta, the off-pump technique was developed as an alternative approach, particularly for patients with extensive disease of the ascending aorta