Abstract: Objective To compare the analgesic efficacy and the incidence of the nausea and vomiting between general anesthesia(GA) and general anesthesia combined with cervical plexus block undergoing thyroid surgery. Methods A total of 80 patients who underwent elective thyroid operations were selected and assigned to four groups:GA fentanyl(group Ⅰa, n=20),GA sufentanil(group Ⅰb; n=20),GA fentanyl+cervical plexus block(group Ⅱa, n=20),GA sufentanil+cervical plexus block(group Ⅱb, n=20). Postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, extubation time, recovery time and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were recorded and compared in four groups. Results VAS scores showed significant difference between 2 and 6 h after operation (P<0.05); with that in Ⅰb and Ⅱb groups significantly lower than that inⅠa and Ⅱa (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between VAS scores in Ⅰa and Ⅱa, Ⅰb and Ⅱb groups (P>0.05). No difference was found in VAS score among four groups at 24 h after operation(P>0.05). There were no significant differences about the time of extubation and recovery (P>0.05). No difference of the incidence on PONV was observed among the four groups at the first 24 h postoperatively.Conclusion There was no significant difference between general anesthesia alone and general anesthesia combined with cervical plexus block. Compared with fentanyl sufentanil, sufentanil as a general anesthesia analgesic component could significantly reduce the VAS score of patients after thyroid surgery.

Key words: thyroid surgery, general anesthesia, cervical plexus block