The invention provides a thoracic catheter allowing a comparatively simple and reliable control and relief of pain associated with thoracatomy. The thoracic catheter (1) of the invention has a distal end (2), a proximal end (3) and an intercostal region (4) in between, wherein the thoracic catheter (1) is covered on its outer surface (6) in the intercostal region (4) with a capillary active layer (5), which is fluidically connectable to a distal source (7) of an anesthetic agent, and which, when arranged in the body of a patient, is capable of releasing the anesthetic agent into the intercostal space (21).
