Objective To investigate the effect of lidocaine on the dosage of medications, postoperative recovery quality and postoperative chronic pain (CPSP) in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods Ninety patients who were scheduled for thoracoscopic lobectomy were included. According to the random number table method, they were divided into two groups (n=45): a lidocaine group (group L) and a control group (group C). Group L was given 1.0 mg/kg lidocaine during anesthesia induction, followed by continuous pumping of lidocaine at 1.5 mg·kg-1·h-1 until extubation. Group C was given the equal volume of normal saline. Both groups were compared for their general information; operation time, anesthesia time, one‑lung ventilation time, propofol and remifentanil dosage; the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at the time of admission to post‑anesthesia care unit (PACU), 30 min after admission to PACU, and 12, 24 h and 48 h after surgery; postoperative nausea, vomiting, time to first anal exhaust, time to first out-of-bed activity, total length of hospitalization stay, postoperative length of hospitalization stay, and postoperative pulmonary complications. The 40 item Quality of Recovery Score (QoR‑40) was scored 24 h after surgery. The incidence of CPSP and the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Sign (LANSS score) >12 points in both groups were recorded 3 months after surgery. Results The intraoperative propofol dosage and remifentanil dosage in group L were less than those in group C (P<0.05). In group L, the time to first anal exhaust, the incidence of nausea and vomiting, VAS scores 30 min after admission to PACU, 12 h and 24 h after surgery, the incidence of CPSP and LANSS scores>12 points 3 months after surgery were lower than those in group C (P<0.05), and the length of hospitalization stay was longer than that in group C (P<0.05). The comfort, pain score and total score of the QoR‑40 scores 24 h after surgery in group L were higher than those in group C (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in other indexes (P>0.05). Conclusions Continuous intraoperative intravenous injection of lidocaine (with an induced load of 1.0 mg/kg, and continuously maintained at 1.5 mg·kg-1·h-1) reduces the usage of anesthetics in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy, alleviates postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, improves the quality of postoperative recovery, and reduces the incidence of postoperative chronic pain and neuropathic pain.