Journals / Dicle Tıp Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 53 Sayı: 3

Comparison of Paravertebral Block and Intercostal Block in Postoperative Analgesia Management in Patients Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS): A Retrospective Study

Video Yardımlı Torakoskopik Cerrahi (VATS) Uygulanan Hastalarda Postoperatif Analjezi Yönetiminde Paravertebral Blok ve İnterkostal Bloğun Karşılaştırılması: Retrospektif Çalışma

Fuat Şener(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, DİYARBAKIR GAZİ YAŞARGİL SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ)
Ayhan Kaydu(Dicle Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi)
Pages
725–732
Publication Date
2026-09-11
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Our findings support that PVB may be an effective option for postoperative pain management after VATS.

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Objective & Hypothesis:Abstract Objective: The primary aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of paravertebral block (PVB) and intercostal block (ICB) in postoperative pain control in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), based on static and dynamic visual analog scale (VAS) scores.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 60 patients aged 18 years and older who underwent VATS procedures at Dicle University Hospital in 2021.
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Conclusion & Impact:Our findings support that PVB may be an effective option for postoperative pain management after VATS.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2021 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Video yardımlı torakoskopik cerrahi · Paravertebral blok · İnterkostal blok

Abstract

Abstract Objective: The primary aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of paravertebral block (PVB) and intercostal block (ICB) in postoperative pain control in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), based on static and dynamic visual analog scale (VAS) scores. The secondary aim was to evaluate the two block techniques in terms of additional analgesic requirement, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, and recorded complications. Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 60 patients aged 18 years and older who underwent VATS procedures at Dicle University Hospital in 2021. All patients received standard general anesthesia. Patients who received PVB for postoperative analgesia were defined as Group 1 (n=30), while those who received ICB were defined as Group 2 (n=30). Demographic characteristics, ASA scores, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores, additional analgesic requirements, and complications were recorded from patient files. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, and a p-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the patients included in the study was 46 years, and 65% were male. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, sex, ASA classification, or smoking history. In the postoperative analgesia assessment, both static and dynamic VAS scores at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours were significantly lower in patients who received PVB compared with those who received ICB (p<0.001). The need for additional analgesics was observed in 70% of patients in Group 1 and 90% of patients in Group 2; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.053). No clinically significant hemodynamic instability was observed. Conclusion: Paravertebral block was found to be more effective than intercostal block in postoperative pain control during the early period after VATS. PVB was associated with lower static and dynamic VAS scores. Although the need for additional analgesics was lower in the PVB group, this difference did not reach statistical significance. No serious block-related complications were recorded in the patient files. Our findings support that PVB may be an effective option for postoperative pain management after VATS.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın primer amacı, video yardımlı torakoskopik cerrahi (VATS) uygulanan hastalarda paravertebral blok (PVB) ve interkostal blok (İKB) yöntemlerinin postoperatif ağrı kontrolündeki etkinliğini statik ve dinamik görsel analog skala (VAS) skorları üzerinden karşılaştırmaktır. Çalışmanın sekonder amacı ise iki blok yöntemini ek analjezik gereksinimi, intraoperatif hemodinamik parametreler ve kayıtlı komplikasyonlar açısından değerlendirmektir. Yöntemler: Retrospektif olarak planlanan bu çalışmaya, 2021 yılında Dicle Üniversitesi Hastanesi’nde VATS operasyonu geçiren, 18 yaş ve üzeri toplam 60 hasta dahil edildi. Tüm hastalara standart genel anestezi uygulandı. Postoperatif analjezi amacıyla PVB uygulanan hastalar Grup 1 (n=30), İKB uygulanan hastalar ise Grup 2 (n=30) olarak tanımlandı. Demografik özellikler, ASA skorları, intraoperatif hemodinamik parametreler, postoperatif dönemde görsel analog skala (VAS) skorları, ek analjezik gereksinimi ve komplikasyonlar hasta dosyalarından kaydedildi. İstatistiksel analiz SPSS programında yapıldı ve p≤0,05 anlamlı kabul edildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya dahil edilen hastaların yaş ortalaması 46 yıl olup, %65’i erkekti. Gruplar arasında yaş, cinsiyet, ASA sınıflaması ve sigara kullanım öyküsü açısından anlamlı fark bulunmadı. Postoperatif analjezi açısından değerlendirildiğinde, PVB uygulanan hastalarda 1., 6., 12. ve 24. saatlerde hem statik hem de dinamik VAS skorlarının İKB grubuna göre anlamlı derecede düşük olduğu saptandı (p<0,001). Ek analjezik gereksinimi Grup 1’de %70, Grup 2’de %90 oranında görüldü; ancak bu fark istatistiksel anlamlılık düzeyine ulaşmadı (p=0,053). Hemodinamik değerlendirmede klinik açıdan belirgin hemodinamik instabilite izlenmedi. Sonuç: Paravertebral blok, interkostal bloğa kıyasla VATS sonrası erken dönemde postoperatif ağrı kontrolünde daha etkin bulunmuştur. PVB, daha düşük statik ve dinamik VAS skorları ile öne çıkmıştır. Ek analjezik gereksinimi PVB grubunda daha düşük oranda görülmekle birlikte, bu fark istatistiksel anlamlılık düzeyine ulaşmamıştır. Hasta dosyalarında ciddi blok ilişkili komplikasyon kaydına rastlanmamıştır. Bulgularımız, VATS sonrası postoperatif ağrı yönetiminde PVB’nin etkili bir seçenek olabileceğini desteklemektedir.

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Cite This Article

Kaydu, A. (2026). Comparison of Paravertebral Block and Intercostal Block in Postoperative Analgesia Management in Patients Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS): A Retrospective Study. Dicle Tıp Dergisi, Cilt: 53 Sayı: 3, 725–732. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.2037381

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