What is the most common complication of thoracic paravertebral nerve block?

The most common complication of a thoracic paravertebral nerve block is pneumothorax. This complication arises due to the proximity of the paravertebral space to the lung, particularly at the upper thoracic levels. During the procedure, if the needle inadvertently punctures the pleura, it can result in a pneumothorax, which is the presence of air in the pleural cavity leading to lung collapse.

Thoracic paravertebral blocks are performed to provide analgesia by blocking the nerves at the level of the vertebrae, but care must be taken to avoid complications, especially those related to lung injury. Pneumothorax is a particularly concerning complication that necessitates immediate attention and management.

While hypotension, intravascular injection, and subarachnoid injection can occur as complications in various nerve block procedures, they are less common in the context of thoracic paravertebral blocks. Hypotension is usually associated with sympathetic nerve blockade, which can occur but is not the primary concern; intravascular injection refers to the needle inadvertently entering a blood vessel, which can happen, but it is not specific to this procedure; subarachnoid injection involves the needle entering the subarachnoid