Objective To evaluate the effect of thoracic paravertebral block ( TPVB) combined with
general anesthesia on the long-term
quality of life in the
patients undergoing
breast cancer surgery .
Methods A total of 156
patients ,
aged 18-64 yr, of American Society of
Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠ or Ⅱ, undergoing
breast cancer surgery , were randomly assigned to TPVB combined with general anes-thesia group (TPVB+GA group, n= 78) and
general anesthesia group (GA group, n = 78), and the pa-tients in two groups were matched with a ratio of 1 1. In group TPVB+GA,
propofol (target effect-site concentration 2. 5-4. 0 μg∕ml) was given by target-controlled infusion, and
patients received either single or multiple
injections (T1-T5 ) of TPVB under ultrasound guidance at 30 min before induction of general an-esthesia. Group GA inhaled 2. 0%-2. 5%
sevoflurane . The
patients were followed up at 6 and 12 months after operation, postoperative
chronic pain and
chronic pain affecting daily
life were assessed using the mod-ified Brief
Pain Inventory , the development of
neuropathic pain using
neuropathic pain questionnaire -short form, and the development of long-term
health-related quality of life by using the 12-item short-form scale. Results There was no significant difference in the
incidence of
chronic pain and
chronic pain affecting dai-ly
life ,
incidence of
neuropathic pain or
quality of life scale score at 6 and 12 months postoperatively be-
tween the two groups (P>0. 05). Conclusion TPVB combined with
general anesthesia exerts no effect on the long-term
quality of life in the
patients undergoing
breast cancer surgery .