Paravertebral block's effect on analgesia and inflammation in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization and microwave ablation

Table 1 Patients’ baseline characteristics

Variable	PVB group (n = 28)	Control group (n = 30)	P value
Age (yr)	56.4 ± 9.2	58.3 ± 8.7	0.42
Sex (male/female)	16/12	18/12	0.72
Body mass index (kg/m2)	23.5 ± 3.1	24.2 ± 2.9	0.34
ASA physical status (I/II/III)	6/16/6	8/14/8	0.81
Tumor size (cm)	4.6 ± 1.2	4.8 ± 1.3	0.56
Tumor number (single/multiple)	12/16	14/16	0.77
Procedure duration (min)	82.5 ± 15.4	85.3 ± 16.2	0.51

Data are expressed as means ± SD or frequencies. ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; PVB: Paravertebral block.

Table 2 Visual analog scale score for pain at different time points after the procedure

Time point	PVB group (n = 28)	Control group (n = 30)	P value
6 h after the procedure	2.1 ± 1.2	4.3 ± 1.4	< 0.001
12 h after the procedure	1.8 ± 1.0	3.7 ± 1.3	< 0.001
24 h after the procedure	1.4 ± 0.9	3.2 ± 1.2	< 0.001
48 h after the procedure	1.1 ± 0.8	2.8 ± 1.1	< 0.001

Data are expressed as means ± SD. PVB: Paravertebral block.

Table 3 Consumption of sufentanil during and after the procedure

Variable	PVB group (n = 28)	Control group (n = 30)	P value
Sufentanil consumption during the procedure (μg)	15.7 ± 4.2	25.3 ± 5.6	< 0.001
Sufentanil consumption after the procedure (μg)	32.1 ± 8.7	48.6 ± 10.4	< 0.001
Total sufentanil consumption (μg)	47.8 ± 11.3	73.9 ± 13.2	< 0.001

Data are expressed as means ± SD. PVB: Paravertebral block.

Table 4 Incidence of adverse events during and after the procedure

Variable	PVB group (n = 28)	Control group (n = 30)	P value
Nausea (%)	7.1	26.7	0.03
Vomiting (%)	3.6	16.7	0.04
Respiratory depression (%)	0	10	0.02
Hypotension (%)	3.6	6.7	0.65
Bradycardia (%)	0	3.3	> 0.99
Puncture site hematoma (%)	0	0	> 0.99

Data are expressed as means ± SD. PVB: Paravertebral block.

Table 5 Levels of inflammatory markers before and after the procedure

Variable	Time point	PVB group (n = 28)	Control group (n = 30)	P value
WBC (× 109/L)	Before the procedure	6.8 ± 1.5	7.1 ± 1.6	0.36
	24 h after the procedure	9.4 ± 2.1	12.3 ± 2.7	< 0.001
	48 h after the procedure	8.2 ± 1.8	10.5 ± 2.4	< 0.001
NEUT% (%)	Before the procedure	65.3 ± 8.5	66.7 ± 9.2	0.54
	24 h after the procedure	72.4 ± 7.6	80.5 ± 6.8	< 0.001
	48 h after the procedure	69.2 ± 7.2	76.3 ± 7.4	< 0.001
CRP (mg/L)	Before the procedure	5.2 ± 1.4	5.6 ± 1.6	0.32
	24 h after the procedure	18.7 ± 4.3	26.4 ± 5.9	< 0.001
	48 h after the procedure	14.3 ± 3.8	20.6 ± 5.2	< 0.001
PCT (ng/mL)	Before the procedure	0.12 ± 0.04	0.13 ± 0.05	0.46
	24 h after the procedure	0.28 ± 0.08	0.42 ± 0.11	< 0.001
	48 h after the procedure	0.22 ± 0.07	0.34 ± 0.09	< 0.001

Data are expressed as means ± SD. PVB: Paravertebral block; WBC; White blood cell; NEUT%: Neutrophil percentage; CRP: C-reactive protein; PCT: Procalcitonin.