Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40247329›Full record

Observational studyJournal of cardiothoracic surgery2025

Impact of preoperative pleural effusion on ultrasound- and pressure-guided thoracic paravertebral block: a prospective observational study.

Yaoping Zhao, Shuang Yu, Dong Zhang, Shaoqiang Zheng, Nan Cai, Qiang Zhang, Geng Wang

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of cardiothoracic surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. 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

7 authors.

Yaoping ZhaoDepartment of Anesthesiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xinjiekou No. 31 East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China.
Shuang YuDepartment of Anesthesiology, Aerospace Central Hospital, Beijing, 100049, China.
Dong ZhangDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100035, China.
Shaoqiang ZhengDepartment of Anesthesiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xinjiekou No. 31 East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China.
Nan CaiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xinjiekou No. 31 East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China.
Qiang ZhangDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100035, China.
Geng WangDepartment of Anesthesiology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xinjiekou No. 31 East Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100035, China. wanggengdoc@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the impact of preoperative pleural effusion on the ultrasound visualization of the paravertebral space (PVS), thoracic paravertebral nerve block administered by anesthesiologists, and to investigate whether ultrasound combined with pressure guidance can assist in locating the paravertebral space in patients with pleural effusion.

methodsThis prospective observational study enrolled patients undergoing thoracic surgery at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between September 2021 and September 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups based on preoperative CT findings: the pleural effusion group (n = 40) and the non-pleural effusion group (n = 40). Prior to the induction of general anesthesia, all patients were placed in a lateral position. Thoracic paravertebral nerve block (TPVB) was administered using ultrasound guidance combined with pressure monitoring, with a 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine.

resultsParameters recorded included the duration of puncture and ultrasound pre-scan for TPVB, the ultrasound image definition score of the PVS, the pressure in the external intercostal muscle and PVS, and additional relevant indicators. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before anesthesia induction, post-induction, and during skin incision. Compared to the non-pleural effusion group, the pleural effusion group demonstrated prolonged ultrasound pre-scan and puncture durations. The PVS definition score, the ventral displacement of the pleura, and the accuracy of resident anesthesiologists in identifying the PVS were all significantly lower in the pleural effusion group (p < 0.05). Compared to non-pleural effusion group, the pleural effusion group had significantly higher pressure in PVS. In the pleural effusion group, the pressure in PVS was significantly lower than that in external intercostal muscle (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in MAP and HR between the two groups before anesthesia induction, post-induction and during skin incision (p > 0.05).

conclusionPreoperative pleural effusion is associated with reduced clarity of ultrasound visualization of the PVS, and extended procedural durations for anesthesiologists, thereby increasing the complexity of TPVB. Pressure detection during TPVB implementation can assist in locating the position of the puncture needle. For anesthesiologists with less experience, TPVB should be carefully performed in patients with preoperative pleural effusion.

trial registrationThe trial was prospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry under registration number ChiCTR2100050582, on August 30, 2021.

Indexed as

Nerve BlockPleural EffusionThoracic Surgical ProceduresUltrasonography, InterventionalAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesThoracic VertebraeParavertebral blockPleural effusionPressure measurementRegional blockUltrasound-guided

Identifiers

PMID40247329
PMCPMC12004804

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.