Thoracic paravertebral block for breast cancer surgery: a randomized double-blind study.
BACKGROUND
We examined in this randomized, double-blind study whether a multilevel paravertebral block performed before general anesthesia with propofol and a laryngeal mask enhances postoperative analgesia after breast cancer surgery.


METHODS
Eighty-eight patients were randomized to receive paravertebral injections with either ropivacaine 0.5% (30 mL) or an equivalent amount of isotonic saline. Nine patients were excluded after randomization, thus 79 patients remained for evaluation (ropivacaine, n = 38; placebo, n = 41). Variables of efficacy were the amount of fentanyl delivered by the patient-controlled analgesia device in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), postoperative pain measured on a numeric rating scale at regular intervals from the day of surgery and until the second postoperative day.


RESULTS
The median consumption of fentanyl in the PACU was less in the ropivacaine group compared with the placebo group (0 microg [range: 0-250 microg] versus 100 microg [range: 0-800 microg], P = 0.001). Also, fewer patients in the ropivacaine group reported pain > or =3 on the numbers rating scale in the PACU (13 vs 31, P < 0.0001). No statistical difference in pain scores or consumption of analgesics could be demonstrated after discharge from the PACU.


CONCLUSIONS
A multilevel paravertebral block provides good analgesia for breast surgery, but the duration of analgesia is briefer than described in previous studies.
Department of Anesthesiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
Jytte F
JF
Moller
Lone
L
Nikolajsen
Svein Aage
SA
Rodt
Hanne
H
Ronning
Palle S
PS
Carlsson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*