Abstract:Objective To analyze the effect of erector spinae plane block in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy.Methods Ninety-eight patients who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy in our hospital from February 2021 to March 2023 were selected and divided into the control group and the study group by random number table method, with 49 cases in each group. The study group was given erector spinae plane block combined with opioid-free general anesthesia, and the control group was given opioid-free general anesthesia. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate at T0 (before anesthesia induction), T1 (at endotracheal intubation), T2 (at skin incision making) and T3 (at the end of the operation) in the two groups were compared. The surgery-related conditions, postoperative pain, agitation during recovery and adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The comparison of mean arterial pressure at T0, T1, T2 and T3 in the two groups showed that the mean arterial pressure was different among the time points (P < 0.05) but not between the two groups (P > 0.05), and that the change trend of mean arterial pressure was not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). The comparison of heart rate at T0, T1, T2 and T3 in the two groups demonstrated that the heart rate was different among the time points (P < 0.05) but not between the two groups (P > 0.05), and that the change trend of heart rate was not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no difference in the operative duration between the two groups (P >0.05). The postoperative recovery time and extubation time of the study group were shorter than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The comparison of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at 4 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after the surgery in the two groups exhibited that the VAS scores were different among the time points (P < 0.05) and between the two groups (P < 0.05), and that the VAS scores in the study group were lower than those in the control group, indicating better analgesic effects. The change trends of the VAS scores were different between the two groups (P <0.05). The incidence of emergence agitation in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P <0.05). The overall incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion Erector spinae plane block is safe and feasible for thoracoscopic lobectomy in elderly patients. It avoids the use of opioids, reduces postoperative pain, the risk of emergence agitation, and perioperative adverse reactions, and facilitates rapid recovery of patients.