Effects of ultrasound-guided paravertebral block on MMP-9 and postoperative pain in patients undergoing VATS lobectomy: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

• Published in: BMC anesthesiology Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 59
• Main Authors: Chu, Haichen, Dong, He, Wang, Yongjie, Niu, Zejun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 06.03.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analgesia; Anesthesia; Body mass index; Cardiac arrhythmia; Central nervous system agents; Clinical trials; Comparative analysis; Gelatinase B; Immunotherapy; Inflammation; Lobectomy; Local anesthesia; Lung cancer; Matrix metalloproteinase-9; Medical ethics; Medical personnel; Metastasis; Operative; Opioids; Pain; Pain management; Pain perception; Paravertebral anesthesia; Patients; Pneumonia; Postoperative complications; Postoperative pain; Postoperative period; Recurrence (Disease); Society; Statistical analysis; Surgery; Teachers; Tumors; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy; China; Matrix metalloproteinase-9; Pain; Operative; Paravertebral anesthesia; Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy
• DOI: 10.1186/s12871-020-00976-1
• ISSN: 1471-2253

Local anesthesia can reduce the response to surgical stress and decrease the consumption of opioids, which may reduce immunosuppression and potentially delay postoperative tumor recurrence. We compared paravertebral block (PVB) combined with general anesthesia (GA) and general anesthesia regarding their effects on postoperative pain and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. 54 patients undergoing elective VATS lobectomy at a single tertiary care, teaching hospital located in Qingdao between May 2, 2018 and Sep 28, 2018 were randomised by computer to either paravertebral block combined with general anesthesia or general anesthesia. The primary outcomes were pain scores at rest and on cough at 1, 4, 24, and 48 h after surgery. The secondary outcome were plasma concentrations of MMP-9, complications, and length of postoperative hospital stay. 75 were enrolled to the study, of whom 21 were excluded before surgery. We analyzed lobectomy patients undergoing paravertebral block combined with general anesthesia (n = 25) or general anesthesia (n = 24). Both groups were similar regarding baseline characteristics. Pain scores at rest at 4 h and 24 h, on cough at 4 h were lower in PVB/GA group, compared with GA group (P < 0.05). There were no difference in pain scores at rest at 1 h, 48 h and on cough at 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h between groups. Patients in the PVB/GA group showed a greater decrease in plasma MMP-9 level at T1 and T2 after VATS lobectomy (P < 0.05). Postoperative complications and length of stay did not differ by anesthetic technique. The paravertebral block/general anesthesia can provide statistically better pain relief and attenuate MMP-9 response to surgery and after VATS lobectomy. This technique may be beneficial for patients to recover rapidly after lung surgery and reduce postoperative tumor recurrence. Chinese Clinical Trial registration number ChiCTR1800016379. Registered 28 May 2018.