Applications of nerve stimulator-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block plus general anesthesia in small-incision lung cancer surgery

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the application of nerve stimulator-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block (TPVB) plus general anesthesia (GA) in small-incision lung cancer surgery. Methods: Forty patients scheduled for small-incision lung cancer surgery, the American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I-II, were randomized into a TPVB-GA group (Group P) and a GA group (Group G), with 20 cases in each group. The dosage of general anesthetic, mean arterial pressure (MAP) at each time point, and heart rate (HR) of the two groups were recorded. The postoperative respiration recovery time, extubation time, incidence of adverse reactions, and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the two groups were also observed. Results: Group P showed stable hemodynamics, and lower MAP and HR at each time point than Group G (P < 0.05). The intraoperative dosage of general anesthetic in Group P was lower than that in Group G (P < 0.05). The respiration recovery time and extubation time in Group P were significantly shorter than those in Group G (P < 0.05); the incidence of agitation was significantly lower than that in Group G (P < 0.05). The VAS scores of Group P under quiet and cough status were also better than Group G (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Nerve stimulator-guided TPVB-GA is suitable for small-incision lung cancer surgery.