Continuous Rhomboid Intercostal Block for Thoracoscopic Postoperative Analgesia

Rhomboid intercostal block is a type of plane block used for postoperative analgesia after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided continuous rhomboid intercostal block (CRIB) on the global Quality of Recovery (QoR-40) scores and postoperative analgesia after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

A total of 66 adult patients scheduled for elective unilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were randomly allocated to group C and group CRIB. In group C, patients were administered patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with sufentanil after operation. Patients in group CRIB received patient-controlled analgesia with ropivacaine CRIB. All patients completed the QoR-40 test during the preoperative evaluation and again 24 hours after the operation. Information on 48-hour postoperative pain and adverse events was recorded.

The QoR-40 scores of group C were significantly lower than the scores of group CRIB (155.4 ± 6.1 vs 172.6 ± 6.3; P < .001), with a mean difference of -17.2 (95% CI, -20.4 to -13.9) 24 hours after operation. The postoperative numeric rating scale scores in group CRIB at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after the surgical procedure, when patients were at rest, were significantly lower than the scores in group C (all P < .05). The postoperative numeric rating scale scores in group CRIB at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 hours after surgical procedure, when patients were moving, were significantly lower than the scores in group C (all P < .05).

In patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, CRIB led to improved quality of recovery and postoperative analgesia.