Abstract:Objective To explore the value of ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy based on the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS).Methods A total of 106 patients with early lung cancer who underwent VATS lobectomy in our hospital from April 2019 to October 2021 were included in the study. They were randomly divided into TPVB group and EA group, with 53 cases in each group. The TPVB group was treated with ultrasound-guided TPVB and general anesthesia, while the EA group was treated with epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia. The analgesic effect, vital signs, pulmonary function, postoperative recovery and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at rest of the TPVB group were compared with those of EA group at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after operation. The repeated measures analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences in VAS scores at rest among the time points (F = 25.842, P <0.05) and between TPVB group and EA group (F = 101.268, P < 0.05). The VAS score at rest of TPVB group was lower than that of EA group, indicating a better analgesic effect. Besides, there were significant differences in the change trends of VAS scores at rest between TPVB group and EA group (F = 42.638, P = 0.000). The MAP, HR, and SpO2 were also different among the time points (F = 19.635, 27.415 and 40.362, all P <0.05) and between the two groups (F = 12.845, 24.632 and 31.486, all P < 0.05). The MAP, HR and SpO2 during skin incision in TPVB group were higher than those in EA group. There were significant differences in the change trends of MAP, HR and SpO2 between the two groups (F = 89.563, 102.542 and 117.635, all P <0.05). There was no difference in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), vital capacity (VC) and minute ventilation volume (MVV) after the extubation between the two group (P >0.05), while FEV1, VC, MVV at 48 h after operation and the differences of FEV1, VC, MVV after the extubation and at 48 h after operation were higher in TPVB group than those in EA group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the extubation time between the two groups (P >0.05). The time to first flatus, defecation, and off-bed activity and the length of hospital stay in TPVB group were shorter than those in EA group (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of postoperative complications in TPVB group was lower than that in EA group (P < 0.05).Conclusions The ultrasound-guided TPVB is effective for analgesia in VATS lobectomy, and is conducive to stabilizing the hemodynamics, protecting the lung function, and reducing the risk of postoperative complications, which is in line with the ERAS concept.