Effects of modified intercostal nerve freezing technique on postoperative recovery of traditional thoracotomy

Abstract

Objective To explore the application value and advantages of modified intercostal nerve freezing technique on postoperative recovery of traditional thoracotomy. Methods 100 patients undergoing conventional thoracotomy incision patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, group A as the modified intercostal nerve freezing group (n = 50) using the Beijing K001AND company JT-Ⅰ treatment only in the off-type freezer chest incision locating on intercostal and upper and lower intercostal space and the indwelling chest tube where the intercostal nerves were frozen;group B, continuous epidural analgesia group (n=50), using the Japanese company's electronic pump wells, plus droperidol with morphine-line continuous epidural analgesia (Patient control epidural analgesia, PCEA). All patients in two groups were using a visual analogue scale (Visual analogue scale, VAS) assessment of postoperative pain,observing patients 2 hours, 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after surgery when the VAS score, nausea,vomiting, respiratory depression, itching, the incidence of intestinal paralysis. Results The post-operative pain of group A was better than that of group B, and the incidence rate of side effect was also lower than that of group B.Conclusions It suggested that the modified intercostal nerve freezing technique could effectively promote postoperative recovery after thoracotomy. Key words: Intercostal nerve freezing; Epidural; Postoperative analgesia; Thoracotomy