Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39360508›Full record

Trial reportJournal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine2025

Effect of Ultrasound-Guided External Oblique Intercostal Block on Postoperative Recovery After Subxiphoid Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Thymectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Zhiang Li, Lihong Hu, Yong Xi, Lingzhi Wang, Xuwei Zhang, Joseph Mugaanyi

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zhiang LiDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Lihong HuDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Yong XiDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Lingzhi WangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Xuwei ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
Joseph MugaanyiDepartment of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1688-5475

Funding

Science and Technology Innovation 2025 Major Special Project of Ningbo 2019B10039
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveSevere postoperative pain can occur after subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy (SVATT), affecting the quality of postoperative recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided external oblique intercostal (EOI) block on recovery after SVATT.

methodsA total of 60 patients undergoing SVATT were randomly divided into the EOI group (group E, n = 30) and the control group (group C, n = 30). Group E underwent ultrasound-guided bilateral EOI block at the 6th rib level and was injected 20 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine on each side. Group C was injected with 20 mL of 0.9% saline at the same site. After the operation, both groups received a patient-controlled intravenous analgesic (PCIA) pump. The 15-item Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) scores were recorded at 24 hours before surgery (T0), 24 hours after surgery (T3), and 48 hours after surgery (T4). The sufentanil usage in the first 24 hours postoperatively, the remifentanil dosage during surgery, the time of first pressing PCIA, and the cases of rescue analgesia were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores of patients at 6 (T1), 12 (T2), 24 (T3), and 48 hours (T4) after an operation during rest and coughing were recorded. The dermatomes of the sensory plane, block complications in group E, and the incidence of other postoperative adverse reactions in both groups were also recorded.

resultsCompared with group C, the QoR-15 scores of patients were significantly higher at T3 and T4 in the group E. The VAS scores were significantly lower at T1, T2, and T3 during rest and coughing in the group E. The sufentanil usage in the first 24 hours postoperatively, the remifentanil dosage during surgery, and the cases of rescue analgesia were significantly lower in group E, and the time of first pressing PCIA was significantly increased in group E (all P < .05).

conclusionUltrasound-guided EOI block can be safely used in patients undergoing SVATT, which can improve the quality of postoperative recovery and reduce postoperative pain.

Indexed as

Nerve BlockPostoperative PainThoracic Surgery, Video-AssistedThymectomyUltrasonography, InterventionalAdultFemaleHumansIntercostal NervesMaleMiddle AgedTreatment Outcomeexternal obliqueintercostal blockpostoperative analgesiathoracoscopythymectomy

Identifiers

PMID39360508
PMCPMC11632645

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.