Clinical Study of Ultrasound-Guided Methylene Blue Thoracic Paravertebral Nerve Block for the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided methylene blue (MB) thoracic paravertebral nerve block (TPVB) on the treatmentof postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 27 patients with PHN were treated with ultrasound-guided TPVB. The blocking drug usedwas an MB compound preparation, and several indexes were recorded, including pain visual analogue scores (VAS), dosageof oral analgesic required, plasma interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and cortisol levels, basic viability, selfassessment, and satisfaction.RESULTS: The patients’ VAS after TPVB were significantly reduced when compared to those before blocking. Furthermore, dosageof oral analgesic required, levels of plasma IL-6, TNF-α, and cortisol were reduced, and basic viability and self-assessments weresignificantly improved (p