Ameliorative effects of parecoxib in combination with ultrasound-guided paravertebral block (UGPB) on stress and inflammatory responses following thoracoscopic surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the ameliorative effects of parecoxib combined with ultrasound-guided paravertebral block (UGPB) on stress and inflammatory responses after thoracoscopic surgery. Methods: Forty thoracoscopic surgery patients were randomized into placebo (control) and parecoxib groups. Parecoxib was administered pre-operation, 24 h and 48 h after operation. Arterial blood was collected, and endotoxin (ET), thromboxane A2 (TXA2), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured. Opioid dosage, infusion volume, blood loss, operation time, visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 24 h and 48 h, and hospitalization period were recorded. Results: No significant differences were observed in age, sex, height, body weight, opioid dosage, surgery time, blood loss, or infusion volume between groups. VAS scores in the parecoxib group were significantly lower than the control group after 24 and 48 h. The hospitalization period of the parecoxib group was significantly shorter than the control group. Plasma levels of ET, TXA2, IL-6 and TNF-α in the parecoxib group were lower than the control group after 24 h; however, there was no significant difference after 48 h. Conclusion: Parecoxib, combined with UGPB, effectively relieves thoracoscopic pain, stress, and inflammatory responses of patients after thoracoscopic surgery. This treatment would improve the postoperative quality of life of lung cancer patients.