ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical effects of intercostals nerve freezing technique for analgesia on post-operative chest. MethodsWe included 80 patients with thoracotomy in Zhongshan Hospital in Xiamen University between June 2013 and June 2014. The patients were divided into a trial group (30 males and 10 females at average age of 59.90± 10.62 years) and a control groups (28 males and 12 females at average age of 59.85± 10.52 years) by random digital table. The patients in the trial group were treated with frozen the intercostals nerve roots located in the incision and next intercostals before closing the chest by cryotherapy therapy apparatus (K520 type, Beijing Kulan Company). The patients in the control group were treated with self-control intravenous analgesia pump post-operation. We compared the postoperative incision pain and cough, sputum reflection score, and pulmonary complications between the two groups. ResultsThe pain degree in the trial group was significantly weaker than that in the control group on the first day, the second day and the seventh day after operation (t=-6.45, -4.95, -3.14, P < 0.05). Cough, sputum reflection score were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). Pulmonary complications were significantly lower (t=3.023, P < 0.05). There were 4 patients with pneumonia and no pulmonary atelectasis in the trial group. While there were 8 patients with pneumonia in the control group and 1 patient with pulmonary atelectasis. ConclusionIntercostals nerve freezing technique can drastically reduce postoperative pain in the patients with open thoracic operation, effectively promote patient cough and expectoration, and reduce pulmonary complications rate.