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. 2023 Mar;18(1):157-165.
doi: 10.5114/wiitm.2022.120572. Epub 2022 Oct 22.

The effects of different analgesic methods on chronic pain in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Xiaoning Zhao  1 , Weijie Xiao  1 , Tianhao Zhang  1 , Man Xi  1 , Xijia Sun  1
Affiliations

The effects of different analgesic methods on chronic pain in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Xiaoning Zhao et al. Wideochir Inne Tech Maloinwazyjne. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction: Thoracic epidural block, paravertebral block, and intercostal nerve block have been confirmed to alleviate acute pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). In contrast, little is known about the effects of these methods on chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP).

Aim: To investigate the effects of epidural block, paravertebral block, and intercostal nerve block on postoperative chronic pain in patients undergoing VATS.

Material and methods: A total of 240 patients undergoing VATS were randomly divided into 4 groups: an epidural group, paravertebral group, intercostal group, and a control group. All patients were interviewed after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months to investigate the incidence and severity of CPSP.

Results: The epidural group had lower incidence of chronic pain within 6 months and it was less severe within 3 months compared with the control group. The incidence and intensity of chronic pain within 3 months were lower in the intercostal group than in the control group. The incidence and intensity of pain within 1 month of surgery were lower in the paravertebral group than in the control group. Of the 122 patients who developed pain after 1 month, 93 (76.2%) reported chronic pain after 12 months, and only 9 (11.7%) had chronic pain after 12 months despite reporting no pain at 1 month.

Conclusions: The prevalence of CPSP after VATS is high. Epidural block, paravertebral block, and intercostal nerve block can all reduce the incidence and severity of CPSP, with epidural block showing the best effect. In addition to acute pain, 1-month postoperative pain also exerts a warning effect on CPSP.

Keywords: chronic pain; chronic post-surgical pain; intercostal nerve block; paravertebral nerve block; thoracic epidural block; video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study TEB – thoracic epidural block, TPVB – paravertebral nerve block, INB – intercostal block nerve block, ICU – intensive care unit.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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