ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided great auricular nerve (GAN)block combined with general anesthesia for middle ear microsurgery in adult patients.Methods Sixty-four adult patients of both sexes,aged 18-60 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,scheduled for elective middle ear microsurgery,were assigned into 2 groups (n =32 each) using a random number tabte:GAN block combined with general anesthesia group (group GANB+G) and general anesthesia group (group G).Patients received GAN block with 0.25％ ropivacaine 2 ml using ultrasoundguided in-plane technique before anesthesia induction in group GANB+G.Anesthesia induction and maintenance protocols (IV infusion of propofol and target-controlled infusion of remifentanil) were similar in two groups.Analgesia was performed with sufentanil,flurbiprofen axetil or parecoxib sodium after operation to maintain visual analog scale score ＜4 within 48 h after operation.The infusion duration and consumption of propofol and remifentanil,requirement for postoperative analgesia and occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded.Results Compared with group G,the consumption of remifentanil was significantly reduced,and the requirement for postoperative analgesia and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were decreased in group GANB + G (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided GAN block combined with general anesthesia provides better analgesic efficacy in the the perioperative period in adult patients undergoing middle ear microsurgery.