The impact of thoracic paravertebral nerve block at different positions on pain relief in patients undergoing single-port thoracoscopic partial lung resection: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials. 2026 Feb 3;27(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-09198-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread adoption of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), postoperative pain associated with this procedure remains a significant concern. Effective postoperative analgesia is essential for facilitating the recovery of patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is widely recognized as an extremely effective method of analgesia in such surgeries. Our previous study has demonstrated that the diffusion of local anesthetic during nerve blocks is related to body position. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of thoracic paravertebral nerve block in various body positions on the analgesic outcomes for patients undergoing single-port thoracoscopic lung resection.

METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the impact of different body positions during thoracic paravertebral nerve blocks on the analgesic effect in patients undergoing single-port thoracoscopic partial lung resection. Patients scheduled for thoracoscopic lung resection will be included in this study. Participants (n = 200) will undergo thoracic paravertebral nerve block under ultrasound guidance. After the injection of the drug, they will be placed in either a supine position or a lateral position with the puncture side up. The NRS scores will be assessed at 1 h, 2 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h postoperatively. Postoperative opioid consumption, rescue analgesia time and frequency, patient satisfaction, incidence of adverse reactions, and length of hospital stay will also be recorded.

DISCUSSION: This research project mainly aimed to investigate the impact of different perioperative positions for thoracic paravertebral nerve block on the analgesic effects in patients undergoing single-port thoracoscopic lung resection. The results may provide important implications for the development of effective analgesic strategies and robust clinical evidence to support the recovery of patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06789276. Registered on 10 January 2025.

PMID:41634718 | PMC:PMC12866324 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-025-09198-7