ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The pectoral nerves (Pecs) block types I and II are novel techniques to block the pectoral, intercostobrachial, third to sixth intercostals, and the long thoracic nerves. They may provide good analgesia during and after breast surgery. Our study aimed to compare prospectively the quality of analgesia after modified radical mastectomy surgery using general anesthesia and Pecs blocks versus general anesthesia alone. METHODS: One hundred twenty adult female patients scheduled for elective unilateral modified radical mastectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive either general anesthesia plus Pecs block (Pecs group, n = 60) or general anesthesia alone (control group, n = 60). RESULTS: Statistically significant lower visual analog scale pain scores were observed in the Pecs group than in the control group patients. Moreover, postoperative morphine consumption in the Pecs group was lower in the first 12 hours after surgery than in the control group. In addition, statistically significant lower intraoperative fentanyl consumption was observed in the Pecs group than in the control group. In the postanesthesia care unit, nausea and vomiting as well as sedation scores were lower in the Pecs group compared with the control group. Overall, postanesthesia care unit and hospital stays were shorter in the Pecs group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The combined Pecs I and II block is a simple, easy-to-learn technique that produces good analgesia for radical breast surgery.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, General/methods , Autonomic Nerve Block/methods , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Pain Management/methods , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Thoracic Nerves , Adult , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Mastectomy/adverse effects , Middle Aged , Pain, Postoperative/diagnosis , Pain, Postoperative/etiology , Prospective Studies , Thoracic Nerves/drug effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many multimodal analgesia techniques have been tried to provide adequate analgesia for midline incisions extending above and below the umbilicus aiming at limiting the perioperative use of morphine thus limiting side effects. Ultrasound (US) guidance made the anesthesiologist reconsider old techniques for wider clinical use. The rectus sheath block (RSB) is a useful technique under-utilized in the adult population. OBJECTIVES: Our study examined the efficacy of a preemptive single-injection rectus sheath block in providing better early postoperative pain scores compared to general anesthesia alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were recruited in this randomized controlled trial. These patients were divided into two groups: RSB group had an RSB after induction of anesthesia and before surgical incision, and GA (general anesthesia) group had general anesthesia alone. Both groups were compared for verbal analogue scale (VAS) score, opioid consumption and hemodynamic variables in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Analgesic requirements in surgical wards were recorded in postoperative days (POD) 0, 1 and 2. RESULTS: The median VAS score was significantly lower in RSB group compared with GA group in all 5 time points in the PACU (P Ë 0.05). Also PACU morphine consumption was lower in RSB group than GA group patients (95% confidence interval [CI] of the difference in means between groups, -4.59 to -2.23 mg). Morphine consumption was also less in the first 2 postoperative days (POD0 and POD1). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block is an easy technique to learn. This technique, when it is used with general anesthesia, will be more effective in reducing pain scores and opioid consumption compared with general anesthesia alone.
