McLean SR, et al. - In patients undergoing lung transplantation, researchers determined the impact of preoperative thoracic epidural (PreTE) catheter placement vs not placing a preoperative thoracic epidural catheter (NoPreTE) on the duration of postoperative ventilation time, time to become coherent (measured as time to become Confusion Assessment Method-intensive care unit [ICU] negative), opioid consumption, ICU length of stay (LOS), and hospital LOS. An association of preoperative thoracic epidural placement with shorter postoperative ventilator time and reduced opioid consumption was observed for those lung transplant patients who were on ventilation for less than 96 hours postoperatively. Improvements were also noted in time to become coherent postoperatively, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS, however, significance decreased after adjustment for possible confounders.