Background. Thoracic surgery is one of the most painful surgical steps. An important tool for managing postoperative pain is effective postoperative analgesia. This research aimed at comparing the analgesic roles of three new fascial block techniques in the postoperative period after video-helped thoracoscopic operation (VATS). Methods. We randomly allocated ninety patients into three teams experiencing ultrasound-directed serratus plane block, erector spinae plane block, and the rhomboid intercostal block, respectively. 0.4% ropivacaine of 20 mL was received by all groups. Outcomes. At 0–12 hours, sufentanil consumption was significantly lower in the RIB (35.2 ± 3.3 mg) and ESP (35.4 ± 2.8 mg) groups than that in the SAB (43.3 ± 2.7 mg) group P < 0.001 , and no obvious diversity in sufentanil consumption was shown between the RIB and ESP groups P = 0.813 . At 12–24 hours, sufentanil consumption was greatly lower in the RIB and ESP groups than that in the SAB group P < 0.001 , and no great diversity in sufentanil consumption was found between the RIB and ESP groups P = 0.589 . No great diversity in sufentanil consumption was shown between the RIB (50.4 ± 1.4 mg), ESP (50.4 ± 1.5 mg), and SAB (51.0 ± 1.7 mg) groups at 24–48 hours P = 0.192 . At 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, the postoperative dynamic NRS scores were significantly lower in the RIB and ESP groups than in the SAB group ( P < 0.05 for all contrasts). Nevertheless, no great diversity was observed in postoperative pain marks at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 hours after the surgery across the three groups. No statistical diversity was found in the postoperative NRS mark between groups RIB and ESP within 48 hours after surgery in case of active patients ( P < 0.05 for all contrasts). At 24 hours after surgery, a significant difference in IL-1β and IL-6 inflammatory factor concentrations was found between RIB and ESP compared with SAB block ( P < 0.05 for all contrasts). However, no great diversities were observed in IL-1β, and IL-6 inflammatory factor concentrations between RIB, ESP, and SAB at 24 hours preoperatively and at 48 hours postoperatively ( P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion. The dosage of sufentanil can be effectively reduced by ultrasound-directed rhomboid intercostal block and erector spinae plane block within 24 hours after VATS surgery, and pain can be relieved effectively within 24 hours by comparing with serratus plane block.

Background and objectives: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours among women. In this study, we compared the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided rhomboid intercostal nerve block, erector spinae plane (ESP) block and serratus plane block (SAB) after modified radical mastectomy (MRM) of unilateral breast cancer.Methods: This study involved a double-blind clinical trial that was carried out in the Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University on 23 September 2020. The inclusion criteria were the following: The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade needed to be 1-2, the patients needed to be between 18 and 80 years old, and MRM needed to be proposed in our hospital. The exclusion criteria were patients with contraindications related to nerve block. Ninety patients were randomly divided into three groups receiving US-guided SAB, ESP block and rhomboid intercostal block (RIB). All groups received 20 mL 0.5% ropivacaine. Within 24 hours after the operation, the patients received an intravenous injection of tramadol 1-2 mg/kg in the surgical ward for pain relief. Results:The dosage of tramadol 24 hours after the operation in the RIB (269.67 ± 48.75 mg) and ESP block groups (273.67 ± 36.90 mg) was significantly lower than that in the SAB group (314.33 ± 18.88 mg) (P < .001). There was no statistical difference in tramadol consumption between the ESP block and RIB groups within 24 hours (P = .676). The numerical rating scale (NRS) scores in the ESP block and RIB groups at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after the operation once patients were active were significantly lower than that in the SAB group (P < .05 for all comparisons); however, the NRS scores of the RIB and ESP block groups did not differ significantly within 24 hours after surgery when patients were active.Conclusions: US-guided rhomboid intercostal block (US-RIB) and ESP block can effectively reduce the dosage of tramadol within 24 hours after MRM, and they can effectively relieve pain within 24 hours after MRM compared with SAB.

Background: Ultrasound-guided rhombic intercostal block (RIB) is a novel regional block that provides analgesia for patients who have received video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The anesthetic characteristics of ultrasound-guided RIB with different concentrations of ropivacaine are not known. This research primarily hypothesizes that ultrasound-guided RIB, given in combination with the same volume of different concentrations of ropivacaine, would improve the whole quality of recovery-40 (QoR-40) among patients with VATS.Approaches: This double-blinded, single-center, prospective, and controlled trial randomized 100 patients undergoing VATS to receive RIB. One hundred patients who have received elective VATS and satisfied inclusion standards were fallen into four groups randomly: control group with no RIB and R0.2%, R0.3%, and R0.4%; they underwent common anesthesia plus the RIB with ropivacaine at 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% in a volume of 30 ml.Outcomes: Groups R0.2%, R0.3%, and R0.4% displayed great diversities in the overall QoR-40 scores and QoR-40 dimensions (in addition to psychological support) by comparing with the control group (Group C) (p &lt; 0.001 for all contrasts). Groups R0.3% and R0.4% displayed great diversities in the overall QoR-40 scores and QoR-40 dimensions (in addition to psychological support) by comparing with the R0.2% group (p &lt; 0.001 for all contrasts). The overall QoR-40 scores and QoR-40 dimensions [physical comfort (p = 0.585)] did not vary greatly between Groups R0.3% and R0.4% (p &gt; 0.05 for all contrasts). Groups R0.2%, R0.3%, and R0.4% showed significant differences in numerical rating scales (NRS) score region under the curve (AUC) at rest and on movement in 48 h when compared with the Group C (p &lt; 0.001 for all contrasts). Groups R0.3% and R0.4% displayed great diversities in NRS score AUC at rest and on movement in 48 h when compared with the R0.2% group (p &lt; 0.001 for all contrasts). The NRS mark AUC at rest and, on movement in 48 h, did not vary greatly between the Group R0.3% and R0.4% (p &gt; 0.05 for all contrasts).Conclusion: In this study it was found that a dose of 0.3% ropivacaine is the best concentration for RIB for patients undergoing VATS. Through growing ropivacaine concentration, the analgesia of the RIB was not improved greatly.Clinicaltrials.gov Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier ChiCTR2100046254.

Background: Ultrasound-guided rhombic intercostal block (RIB) is a novel regional block that provides analgesia for patients who have received video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The anesthetic characteristics of ultrasound-guided RIB with different concentrations of ropivacaine are not known. This research primarily hypothesizes that ultrasound-guided RIB, given in combination with the same volume of different concentrations of ropivacaine, would improve the whole quality of recovery-40 (QoR-40) among patients with VATS.Approaches: This double-blinded, single-center, prospective, and controlled trial randomized 100 patients undergoing VATS to receive RIB. One hundred patients who have received elective VATS and satisfied inclusion standards were fallen into four groups randomly: control group with no RIB and R0.2%, R0.3%, and R0.4%; they underwent common anesthesia plus the RIB with ropivacaine at 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% in a volume of 30mL.Outcomes: Groups R0.2%, R0.3%, and R0.4% displayed great diversities in the overall QoR-40 scores and QoR-40 dimensions (in addition to psychological support) by comparing with the control group (Group C) (p<0.001 for all contrasts). Group R0.3% and R0.4% displayed great diversities in the overall QoR-40 scores and QoR-40 dimensions (in addition to psychological support) by comparing with the R0.2% group (p<0.001 for all contrasts). The overall QoR-40 scores and QoR-40 dimensions (physical comfort [p=0.585]) did not vary greatly between the Group R0.3% and R0.4% (p>0.05 for all contrasts). Group R0.2%, R0.3% and R0.4% showed significant differences in numerical rating scales (NRS) score region under the curve (AUC) at rest and on movement in 48 hours when compared with the Group C (p<0.001 for all contrasts). Group R0.3% and R0.4% displayed great diversities in NRS score AUC at rest and on movement in 48 hours when compared with the R0.2% group (p<0.001 for all contrasts). The NRS mark AUC at rest and on movement in 48 hours did not vary greatly between the Group R0.3% and R0.4% (p>0.05 for all contrasts).Conclusion: It was found that a dose of 0.3% ropivacaine is the best concentration for RIB for patients undergoing VATS. Through growing ropivacaine concentration, the analgesia of the RIB was not improved greatly.Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100046254