Baseline characteristics of patients
| PVB (n=35) | TEB (n=34) | ||
| Age ≥65, years* | 21 (60) | 20 (59) | |
| Age, years | Mean (SD) | 66.0 (10.6) | 65.9 (7.9) |
| Gender=male* | 19 (54) | 20 (59) | |
| Centre* | Birmingham Heartlands | 23 (66) | 26 (76) |
| University Hospital South Manchester | 12 (34) | 8 (24) | |
| Reason for thoracotomy is lung cancer resection* | 30 (86) | 30 (88) | |
| ASA physical status | 1. Normal healthy | 0 (−) | 2 (6) |
| 2. Mild systemic disease | 13 (37) | 10 (30) | |
| 3. Severe systemic disease | 22 (63) | 21 (64) | |
| Missing | – | 1 | |
| ECOG performance status | 0. Normal activity | 20 (57) | 19 (58) |
| 1. Symptomatic but nearly fully ambulatory | 14 (40) | 14 (42) | |
| 2. Symptomatic but bed <50% daytime | 1 (3) | 0 (−) | |
| 3. Symptomatic bed >50% daytime | 0 (−) | 0 (−) | |
| 4. Unable to get out of bed | 0 (−) | 0 (−) | |
| Missing | – | 1 | |
| Dyspnoea | 0. None | 17 (48) | 17 (52) |
| 1. Slight | 16 (46) | 13 (39) | |
| 2. Moderate | 2 (6) | 1 (3) | |
| 3. Moderately severe | 0 (−) | 2 (6) | |
| 4.Severe | 0 (−) | 0 (−) | |
| 5. Very severe | 0 (−) | 0 (−) | |
| Missing | – | 1 | |
| Smoking status | Never smoked | 7 (20) | 6 (18) |
| Stopped >1 year | 19 (54) | 18 (55) | |
| Stopped >6 weeks | 3 (9) | 3 (9) | |
| Stopped <6 weeks | 1 (3) | 4 (12) | |
| Current smoker | 5 (14) | 2 (6) | |
| Missing | – | 1 | |
| Smoking-pack years | Median (IQR) | 37 (20, 49) | 37 (20, 50) |
| Missing | – | 1 | |
| Alcohol units per week | Median (IQR) | 3 (0, 13.5) | 0 (0, 9.7) |
| Missing | – | 1 | |
| Previous medical history=yes | COPD | 7 (20) | 6 (18) |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 4 (11) | 3 (9) | |
| Congestive cardiac failure | 0 (−) | 1 (3) | |
| Hypertension | 18 (51) | 15 (45) | |
| Diabetes diet controlled | 0 (−) | 3 (9) | |
| Diabetes oral medication | 6 (17) | 3 (9) | |
| Diabetes insulin controlled | 2 (6) | 1 (3) | |
| Renal failure | 1 (3) | 1 (3) | |
| Previous stroke | 0 (−) | 0 (−) | |
| Hyperthyroidism | 0 (−) | 0 (−) | |
| Hypothyroidism | 5 (14) | 2 (6) | |
| Other cancer | 12 (34) | 7 (21) | |
| Chronic pain | 2 (6) | 5 (15) | |
| Missing | – | 1 | |
| BMI, kg/m2 | Mean (SD) | 28.4 (5.8) | 27.7 (5.9) |
| Missing | – | 1 |
Frequency (%) presented (unless otherwise stated).
*Minimisation variable.
ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; BMI, body mass index; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; PVB, paravertebral blockade; TEB, thoracic epidural blockade.