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A randomised controlled trial of the pectoral nerves‐2 (PECS‐2) block for radical mastectomy
Author(s) -
Al Ja'bari A.,
Robertson M.,
ElBoghdadly K.,
Albrecht E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/anae.14769
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , morphine , nausea , vomiting , radical mastectomy , pectoral muscle , postoperative nausea and vomiting , mastectomy , droperidol , surgery , sufentanil , breast cancer , cancer
Summary We randomly allocated 50 women scheduled for radical mastectomy to pectoral nerves‐2 (PECS‐2) block (n = 25) or no block (n = 25), 20 and 22 of whom we analysed for the primary outcome of a cumulative 24‐h postoperative morphine dose. We gave intra‐operative sufentanil, magnesium, dexamethasone and droperidol. Participants received regular postoperative paracetamol, ibuprofen and patient‐controlled intravenous morphine. Pectoral nerves‐2 block reduced mean ( SD ) cumulative 24 h postoperative morphine dose from 9.7 (8.9) mg to 5.0 (5.4) mg and 48 h morphine dose from 12.8 (12.5) mg to 6.0 (6.5) mg, p = 0.04 for both. The mean ( SD ) pain scores 24 h and 48 h after surgery were similar with or without block: 0.8 (1.4) vs. 1.2 (1.9), p = 0.39; and 0.2 (0.4) vs. 0.9 (1.8), p = 0.09, respectively. Rates of postoperative nausea, vomiting and pruritus were unaffected. Rates of chronic pain at six postoperative months were 2/19 and 2/18 after block and no block, respectively, p = 0.95.