Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Intravenous Lidocaine in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors' conclusion
Overall, current evidence indicates that while intravenous lidocaine is safe and offers a reproducible reduction in PONV, it does not improve postoperative pain or opioid consumption following VATS.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
- Participants
- 672 patients · 9 RCTs
- Comparison
- IV lidocaine vs control
- Outcome
- Postoperative morphine consumption
- Follow-up
- 24 and 48 hours
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- No reduction in postoperative morphine consumption with lidocaine at 24 h (5 trials, n = 328) or 48 h (3 trials, n = 242)
Further pooled results
Movement pain scores · 24 and 48 hours
- No significant difference between groups (3 trials, n = 200 each)
Intraoperative remifentanil requirements
- Marked reduction with lidocaine (4 trials, n = 272); did not translate into improved postoperative analgesia
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
- Significant reduction in PONV with lidocaine (5 trials, n = 360)
- Negligible heterogeneity
Original publication
Intravenous Lidocaine in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. Published 4 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →