Clinical outcomes of liposomal and conventional bupivacaine in postoperative pain management in female patients following thoracoscopic lung surgery.

This study compared liposomal bupivacaine (LB) and conventional bupivacaine hydrochloride (BH) for postoperative pain management among 50 female patients undergoing uniportal thoracoscopic lung surgery. The patients were randomized to LB (n = 25) or BH (n = 25) groups based on the intercostal nerve blocks they received post-surgery. Outcomes included intraoperative vital signs, pain scores (static/dynamic visual analog scale [VAS]), and adverse reactions (nausea, vomiting, and dizziness) assessed at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h. Intraoperative vital signs (heart rate [HR], blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and bispectral index) and anesthetic/vasoactive drug administration exhibited no significant differences between groups. Postoperatively, the LB group demonstrated superior short-term analgesia, with significantly lower static and dynamic VAS scores at 6 and 24 h in the LB group compared to the BH group [3(3,4) versus 4(4,4); 4(4,4) versus 5(4,6)] (p < 0.05). Between 48 and 72 h, pain scores equalized between groups. Additionally, LB reduced nausea incidence after 24 h (p < 0.05), with no severe adverse reactions reported in either group. Trend analysis revealed peak pain and adverse reactions at 24 h, which subsequently declined in both groups. Although both anesthetics exhibited similar safety profiles, LB offered enhanced early pain relief and fewer nausea-related adverse effects. These findings suggest that LB improves short-term postoperative pain management without compromising safety. Further studies should explore its cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes.