RESUMEN
PURPOSE: This randomized, double-blind study evaluated the effectiveness and limitations of continuous serratus anterior plane block (cSAPB) by comparing the effect of cSAPB to patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) on postoperative acute pain after thoracoscopic surgery in adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients who underwent elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were randomly allocated to cSAPB or PCIA groups (n=33 per group) after surgery. For the cSAPB group, patients were treated by an initial does of 20 mL ropivacaine (0.375%), followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 5 mL/h of ropivacaine (0.2%) and a patient-controlled bolus of 5 mL ropivacaine (0.2%). PCIA started with an initial does of 0.03 µg/kg sufentanil, followed by a basal infusion of 0.03 µg/kg/h sufentanil and a patient-controlled bolus of 0.03 µg/kg sufentanil. Visual analog scale (VAS) and other items were examined postoperatively. The area under the curve of VAS-time (AUCVAS-time) at rest and on coughing in the first 24 hours postoperatively were primary outcomes. RESULTS: At the first 24 hours postoperatively, patients in the cSAPB group exhibited a smaller AUCVAS-time at rest (44.0±17.1 vs 68.9±11.8 cm·h, P<0.001) and AUCVAS-time on coughing (67.1±8.8 vs 78.0±12.5 cm·h, P<0.001) compared with those in the PCIA group. The differences in means of VAS score at rest were more than 1.0 cm between the two groups, however, on coughing they were less than 1.0 cm at each observation point. Additionally, patients in the cSAPB group had a longer time to first patient-controlled bolus (15.8±7.6 vs 10.6±8.6 hours, P=0.011). Furthermore, a higher rank of satisfaction was recorded with patients in the cSAPB group. CONCLUSION: cSAPB using PCA devices might be superior to traditional intravenous continuous analgesia, particularly with an advantage of pain relief at rest following VATS operation. Meanwhile, cSAPB lacks a satisfactory analgesic effect on cough.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Goal-directed therapy confers a strong prognosis in patients undergoing major cardiac or noncardiac surgery. The present study investigated whether intraoperative goal-directed fluid restriction (GDFR) using stroke volume variation (SVV) and cardiac index could improve oxygenation and postoperative outcome in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV). METHODS: A Total of 168 patients scheduled for elective thoracoscopic lobectomy under OLV were randomized into the GDFR protocol (group G) or conventional fluid therapy groups (group C). Patients in group C underwent conventional fluid therapy based on mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), and urine volume, whereas those in group G received GDFR protocol associated with the SVV from 10-13% and the cardiac index was controlled at a minimum of 2.5 L/min/m2. The primary outcome variable was PaO2/FiO2. The secondary outcomes were other pulmonary variables and lung mechanics, inflammatory response, the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, and the length of hospital stay. RESULTS: During surgery, the PaO2/FiO2 ratio in group G was more than that of group C at 30 and 60 min after OLV, 10 min after re-expansion, and the end of the operation (259±29 vs. 314±34; 253±30 vs. 308±35; 341±34 vs. 394±39; 349±35 vs. 401±39, respectively, all P<0.001). Compared to conventional fluid therapy, GDFR protocol also significantly improved the hemodynamic and lung mechanics with the initiation of OLV. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications such as acute lung injury and pneumonia, and the length of hospital stay were decreased by GDFR protocol as compared to conventional fluid therapy (all P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between groups with respect to the concentration of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). CONCLUSIONS: The GDFR protocol based on SVV and cardiac index applied in patients undergoing OLV improves intraoperative pulmonary oxygenation. It can also reduce the postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. However, the GDFR strategy cannot reduce the local or systemic inflammation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trials Register ChiCTR-INR-16008288, Registered 20 April, 2016.