Prospective randomized trial of paravertebral block for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.
BACKGROUND
The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effect of regional anesthesia using paravertebral block (PVB) on postoperative pain after breast surgery.


METHODS
Patients undergoing unilateral breast surgery without reconstruction were randomized to general anesthesia (GA) only or PVB with GA and pain scores assessed.


RESULTS
Eighty patients were randomized (41 to GA and 39 to PVB with GA). Operative times were not significantly different between groups. Pain scores were lower after PVB compared to GA at 1 hour (1 vs 3, P = .006) and 3 hours (0 vs 2, P = .001) but not at later time points. The overall worst pain experienced was lower with PVB (3 vs 5, P = .02). More patients were pain-free in the PVB group at 1 hour (44% vs 17%, P = .014) and 3 hours (54% vs 17%, P = .005) postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
PVB significantly decreases postoperative pain up to 3 hours after breast cancer surgery.
Department of Surgery, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Judy C
JC
Boughey
Farzin
F
Goravanchi
Ronald N
RN
Parris
Spencer S
SS
Kee
Alicia M
AM
Kowalski
John C
JC
Frenzel
Isabelle
I
Bedrosian
Funda
F
Meric-Bernstam
Kelly K
KK
Hunt
Frederick C
FC
Ames
Henry M
HM
Kuerer
Anthony
A
Lucci
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*