Analgesic effect of intercostal nerve block given preventively or at the end of operation in video-assisted thoracic surgery: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract Objective To compare the analgesic effect of intercostal nerve block (INB) with ropivacaine when given preventively or at the end of the operation in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Methods A total of 50 patients undergoing VATS were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in the preventive analgesia group (PR group) were given INB with ropivacaine before the intrathoracic manipulation combined with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). The patients in the post-procedural block group (PO group) were administered INB with ropivacaine at the end of the operation combined with PCA. To evaluate the analgesic effect, postoperative pain was assessed with the visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and Prince Henry Pain Scale (PHPS) scale at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. Results At 6 h and 12 h post-surgery, the VAS at rest and PHPS scores in the PR group were significantly lower than those in the PO group. There were no significant differences in pain scores between two groups at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-surgery. Conclusion In patients undergoing VATS, preventive INB with ropivacaine provided a significantly better analgesic effect in the early postoperative period (at least through 12 h post-surgery) than did INB given at the end of surgery.

Retrospective study of flexible fiber splints in the treatment of horizontal root fractures in permanent teeth / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To analyze the clinical effect of flexible fiber splint on traumatized permanent teeth with horizontal root fractures and to provide the basis for clinical treatment.@*Methods@#The case data of 54 permanent root anterior teeth with horizontal root fractures were collected. Patients with affected teeth were followed for 1 to 2 years to analyze the root fractures. The preservation rate and pulp survival rate were analyzed, and further analysis was performed on the effects of the root fracture location (cervical 1/3, Mid-root, apical 1/3), root development stage (mature permanent teeth, young permanent teeth), dislocation of the coronal fragment (<1 mm, 1 mm, > 1 mm) on root fracture healing and dental pulp survival. @*Results @# A total of 54 teeth with root fractures were treated according to the International Dental Trauma Association Treatment Guidelines. After the application of flexible fiber splint fixation, the tooth preservation rate was 90.7%, and the pulp survival rate was 75.9%, the hard tissues healing rate was 61.1%(33/54). There were no significant differences in the locations of root fractures, the developmental stages of the roots, or the degrees of dislocation of coronal fragment on the types of root fracture healing or dental pulp survival (P > 0.05). @*Conclusion@#The flexible fiber splint has a wide range of indications. Except for affected teeth with the root fracture located above the alveolar crest, other types of horizontal root fractures in anterior teeth can be treated with flexible fiber splint fixation and can achieve a good prognosis.