0.125% 8 ml/h v.s. 0.25% 8 ml/h of levobupivacaine in continuous paravertebral block for postoperative analgesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a randomized, controlled, double-blind study.

Purpose: Research has shown that a higher dose of bupivacaine administered in continuous paravertebral block (CPVB) provides a greater analgesic effect after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). In this randomized, controlled, double-blind study, we hypothesized that 0.25% 8 ml/h of levobupivacaine administered in CPVB after VATS provides a greater analgesic effect than 0.125% 8 ml/h.

Methods: Fifty patients who underwent unilateral VATS were randomized to receive a postoperative continuous infusion of 0.125% (low group, n = 25) or 0.25% (high group, n = 25) levobupivacaine at 8 mL/h for CPVB. The primary outcome was the visual analog scale (VAS) score during coughing on the morning of postoperative day (POD) 1. The secondary outcomes were the VAS scores at rest and during coughing on POD 2, the number of anesthetized dermatomes, the frequency of rescue analgesics, postoperative nausea and vomiting, patient satisfaction, and adverse events and complications.

Results: There was no significant difference in the VAS score during coughing on the morning of POD 1 between the low and high groups [median, 37.5 (interquartile range 21-50) vs. 40.0 (interquartile range 21-50), respectively; p = 0.79]. Similarly, there were no significant differences in any secondary outcomes between the two groups.

Conclusions: Levobupivacaine at 0.25% 8 ml/h in CPVB did not provide better analgesia after VATS over 0.125% 8 ml/h.

Clinical Trial Registration Number: UMIN000037930.