Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of paravertebral block anesthesia on circulating tumor cells and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with primary liver cancer（PLC） undergoing hepatectomy. Methods 110 patients with PLC undergoing resection of liver cancer were recruited in our hospital between March 2014 and March 2017,and they were divided into the paravertebral block and the epidural block group,with 55 cases in each group when anesthesia.All patients underwent radical hepatectomy in our hospital. Cardiovascular parameters were monitored before block （T0）,at 20min after block （T1）,at 60min after block（T2） and at the end of operation（T3）. The T lymphocyte subsets and circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood were detected. Postoperative pain was evaluated by VAS. Results The heart rates and mean arterial pressure in the paravertebral block group at T1,T2 and T3 were significantly quicker or higher than those in the epidural block group（P<0.05）;the percentage of CD4⁺ cells andratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ cells in the paravertebral block group 48h after operation were （39.57±7.12）% and （1.24±0.22）,much higher than [（36.83±6.63）% and （1.09±0.19）,P<0.05],while CD8⁺ cells and circulating tumor cells were （32.29±5.81）% and （18.61±3.35）×10^-5,significantly lower than[（34.61±6.23）% and（20.59±3.70）×10^-5,P<0.05] in the epidural block group;the dosage of remifentanil,recovery time and the times of pressing analgesia pump in the paravertebral block group were significantly less or shorter than those in the epidural block group（P<0.05）. Conclusion Paravertebral block can ensure hemodynamic stability,promote the recovery of postoperative immune functions,reduce peripheral circulating tumor cells and might reduce the risk of tumor invasion and metastasis in patients undergoing resection of liver cancer.

Key words: Hepatoma, Radical hepatectomy, Paravertebral block, T lymphocyte subsets, Circulating tumor cells, Anesthesia