Despite effective epidural analgesia, up to 85% of post-thoracotomy patients complain of moderate-to-severe ipsilateral shoulder pain. This study assessed the efficacy of acetaminophen in decreasing postoperative shoulder pain after a thoracotomy.
Acetaminophen decreases early post-thoracotomy ipsilateral shoulder pain in patients with thoracic epidural analgesia: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.