Efficacy and safety of local ozone injection through the surgical incision for postoperative pain in patients undergoing VATS-assisted pulmonary lobectomy：a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Perioperative analgesia can improve the quality of postoperative recovery in thoracoscopic patients. Nevertheless, traditional analgesic effects are not ideal. Therefore, we intend to afford a fresh approach to managing postoperative pain in patients by dint of probe into the efficacy and safety of local ozone injection. Methods The sequence marked 87 patients subject to downwards video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, divided into the ozone group (n = 44) and control group (n = 43). Primary observation indexes included the resting pain visual analog scale at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h as well as the postoperative three-month simplified McGill pain questionnaire. The statistical software SPSS 20.0 was used to analyse the similarity and dissimilarity in data. Results The Visual Analogue Scale scores (6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h) of the ozone group after surgery were allegedly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in the sensory item score and affective item score in Pain Rating Index, Visual Analogue Scale score, or Present Pain Intensity score between the two groups in the third month after surgery (p > 0.05). Conclusions Local ozone injection for video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary lobectomy effectively lowers postoperative pain scores, facilitates incision healing, reduces postoperative acute adverse reactions, and enhances patients' short-term quality of life after surgery. Therefore, local ozone injection through a surgical incision is practical, safe, and feasible for postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. Trial Registration ChiCTR2000037691(http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=59038)registered on 30/8/2020