Abstract：Objective To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block on the changes of analgesic efficacy and inflammatory response in patients with multiple rib fractures. Methods A retrospective case-control study was performed in 48 patients with multiple rib fractures admitted to 909th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force from July 2016 to December 2018. There were 30 males and 18 females, with the age range of 18-69 years［(41.1±10.4)years］. The number of fractured ribs was 3-9 (5.7±1.9). All patients were stabilized with the memory alloy embracing fixator. Thoracic paravertebral block group received ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block and intravenous analgesia group received patient controlled intravenous analgesia, with 24 patients in each group. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was observed and recorded in the resting/cough state before induction of anesthesia(T1), and 1 h (T2), 6 h (T3), 24 h (T4) and 48 h (T5) after surgery. Blood samples were taken simultaneously from the vein for determination of plasma neutrophil elastase (NE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations by ELISA method. Results In the resting state, there was no significant difference between two groups in VAS at T1 (P＞0.05); the VAS in two groups at T2-T5 decreased significantly compared with T1 (P<0.01); the VAS at T2-T4 in thoracic paravertebral block group ［(3.4±0.7)points, (3.2±0.8)points,(3.1±0.7)points］ was significantly lower than that in intravenous analgesia group ［(4.8±0.9)points,(4.4±0.7)points, (3.9±0.8)points］(P<0.01 ). In the cough state, there was no significant difference between two groups in VAS at T1 (P＞0.05); the VAS at T2-T5 in intravenous analgesia group was all higher than 6 points［(7.7±1.0)points,(7.6±1.3)points,(7.4±1.2)points,(7.1±0.9)point］, and was significantly higher than those in thoracic paravertebral block group ［(3.6±0.7)points,(3.3±0.7)points, (3.2±0.6)points, (2.9±0.7)points］ (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between two groups in plasma levels of NE, TNF-α and IL-6 at T1 (P＞0.05). Their levels at T2 in two groups were significantly increased, but were decreased at T5 compared with those at T1 (P<0.01). The plasma levels of NE, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly lower in thoracic paravertebral block group at T2-T5 ［NE:(65.5±19.0)ng/ml, (42.5±12.5)ng/ml, (26.3±9.3)ng/ml, (20.9±7.9)ng/ml; TNF-α:(8.7±1.9)pg/ml, (6.0±1.3)pg/ml, (3.9±0.9)pg/ml, (2.8±0.8)pg/ml; IL-6:(11.5±3.6)pg/ml, (6.7±1.8)pg/ml, (3.6±1.0)pg/ml, (2.5±0.7)pg/ml］ than those in intravenous analgesia group［NE:(76.7±18.2)ng/ml, (51.4±15.1)ng/ml, (35.5±10.0)ng/ml, (28.6±9.0)ng/ml；TNF-α:(10.0±2.1)pg/ml, (6.8±1.5)pg/ml, (4.7±1.1)pg/ml, (3.6±1.0)pg/ml；IL-6:(16.2±4.2)pg/ml, (8.7±2.1)pg/ml, (5.7±1.2)pg/ml, (3.5±0.7)pg/ml］ (P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion Compared with intravenous analgesia, ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block can provide better analgesic effect, reduce the plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines that result from trauma and surgery, and down-regulate inflammatory response.
