1) Objectives: Evaluation of effect of adding ultrasound-guided paravertebral block to continuous intravenous analgesia in patients undergoing laparotomy
2) Design: in this randomized clinical trial we will assign 21 patients for each group randomly.
3) Setting and Conduct: Paravertebral block will be applied postoperatively in the intervention group, intravenous analgesia will be administrated in patients of the both groups. During 48 hours of the study, one of our colleagues who is blinded to groups will gather and analyze the data.
4) Participants: Inclusion criteria: Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I–III scheduled for upper abdominal laparotomy that ranged in age from 18–80 years. Exclusion criteria: contraindication to regional anesthesia ( preoperative hemostasis disorder or a local or general infection ), history of allergic reaction to local anesthetic , a past medical history of asthma, chronic renal failure or hepatic dysfunction, history of opium abuse; history of neurological, neuromuscular or psychological disorders and pregnancy
5) Interventions: Intervention Group: ultrasound-guided paravertebral block with ropivacaine hydrochloride 0.2% ( Naropin 10mg/ml, 10ml polyamp, ASTRAZENECA ) 20 cc for each side in T7-T8 level plus continuous intravenous analgesia filled with fentanyl ( Fentanyl, Abureyhan, Iran ) 20cc with 80cc normal saline with infusion rate of 4ml/hour. Control Group: continuous intravenous analgesia filled with fentanyl 20 cc with 80 cc normal saline with infusion rate of 4 ml per hour. If patients experience “visual analogue scale” ( VAS ) above three, Pethidine HCL (0.5 mg per kg) will be administered intravenously during 48 after surgery.
6) Main Outcome Variable: “visual analogue scale”, total dosage of opioid