Study Of Cryoanalgesia Used For Post-thoracotomic Pain

【Objective】To evaluate the efficacy of cryoanalgesia used for post-thoracotomic pain.【Methods】Sixty patients underwent unilateral thoracotomy were randomly allocated into three groups.Postoperative analgesia was performed with either intravenous patient-controlled analgesia(PCIA,n=20), epidural patient-controlled analgesia(PCEA,n=20) and cryoanalgesia of intercostal nerves (n=20). Postoperative pain was assessed for 3 days according to Prince-Henry analegue scale, the postoperative complications and pulmonary mechanics were compared. At the same time, the rising range of IL-6 and TNF-a are measured and further compared.【Results】Subjective pain was greatly reduced in three groups.Cryoanalgesia showed a lower pain score (p<0.05) and less analgesia-related postoperative complications. In the level of cellular, compared with both A and B, all the patients in the group C, the rising range of IL-6 and TNF-a are smaller which is good for recovery after operation.【Conclusion】Cryoanalgesia may provide a safe and effective analgesia for post-thoracotomy pain with a better restoration of pulmonary mechanics.