Objective To investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) combined with general anesthesia in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery.

Methods A total of 122 patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery were selected and randomly divided into control group and tudy group, with 61 patients in each group.The control group received general anesthesia, while the study group received ultrasound-guided TPVB combined with general anesthesia.Clinical data and perioperative indicators were recorded and compared between the two groups.Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores before surgery, 24 hours and 72 hours after surgery, and inflammatory factorsinterleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-10(IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), oxidative stress indicatorsmalondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)levels before surgery and 72 hours after surgery were compared between the two groups.Postoperative adverse reactions were recorded.Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of key molecules mRNA in the Nrf2/Keap1/ARE pathway in the peripheral blood of patients in the two groups.

Results There were no statistically significant differences in operative time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (P>0.05).The study group had shorter extubation time and indwelling time of drainage tube, less total drainage volume, and less total PCIA drug consumption within 36 hours after surgery and times of patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) effective compression compared to the control group (P < 0.05).At 24 and 72 hours after surgery, MAP, HR, and VAS scores were higher than preoperative levels in the control group, while VAS scores were higher than preoperative levels in the study group, but MAP, HR, and VAS scores were lower in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05).At 72 hours after surgery, serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and MDA were higher than preoperative levels, while SOD and GSH-Px levels were lower than preoperative levels in both groups.Additionally, the study group had lower serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA and higher levels of IL-10, SOD, and GSH-Px compared to the control group (P < 0.05).The total incidence of postoperative adverse reactions was 4.92%(3/61) in the study group, which was lower than 21.31%(13/61) in the control group (P < 0.05).At 72 hours after surgery, the expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA and ARE mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients in the study group were lower than those in the control group, while the expression level of Keap1 mRNA was higher (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Compared with general anesthesia, ultrasound-guided TPVB combined with general anesthesia can significantly improve hemodynamic stability and analgesic effects in patients with early-stage lung cancer after thoracoscopic surgery, relieve inflammatory and oxidative stress responses, and decrease the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions.The molecular mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Nrf2/Keap1/ARE signaling pathway activation.