Paravertebral Block Versus Intercostal Nerve Block in Non-Intubated Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background Non-intubated uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been reported to be safe and feasible for patients with various thoracic diseases, including those who have respiratory dysfunction. This study examined the anaesthetic and analgesic sparing effects of either paravertebral block or intercostal nerve block on the non-intubated technique with spontaneous ventilation in patients under general anaesthesia (GA) using a supraglottic airway device. The primary aim was to compare the anaesthetic sparing effect of paravertebral block versus intercostal nerve block in non-intubated GA with airway support via a supraglottic airway device during VATS surgery. The secondary aim was to compare the recovery characters and postoperative outcomes of the patients. Methods The study included 105 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status II-III who had video-assisted thoracoscopy without endotracheal intubation and using a laryngeal airway. The patients were divided into three groups; each group consisted of 35 patients. Group I (35 patients): control group received only GA. Group 2 (35 patients): received a single-shot paravertebral block before induction of the GA. Group 3 (35 patients): received thoracoscopic intercostal block infiltration after induction of anaesthesia from the third to the eighth intercostal nerve block, in addition to intrathoracic vagal block. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and oxygen saturation were recorded before induction of GA (T0), after induction of GA (T1), 20 minutes later (T2), and before the end of the surgical procedure (T3). Results Heart rate was significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 compared with Group 1, and lower in Group 2 compared with Group 3. The MAP was significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 compared with Group 1, and there was no significant difference between Groups 2 and 3. Oxygen saturation was significantly higher in Group 2 and in Group 3 compared with Group 1 and there was no significance difference between Groups 2 and 3. Expiratory fraction of sevoflurane (Ef sevo) was significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 compared with Group 1, with no difference between Group 2 and 3. Groups 2 and 3 had lower fentanyl requirements, time to spontaneous eye movement, time to spontaneous arm movement, time to purposeful movement, and time to laryngeal mask removal than Group 1. Conclusions Regional anaesthesia by either preoperative paravertebral block or thoracoscopic intercostal nerve block with ipsilateral vagal block provided an anaesthetic sparing effect, guided by lower Ef sevo concentration, with comparable bi-spectral index in patients undergoing uniportal thoracoscopic surgery.