Comparative study between Ultrasound guided Pectoral nerves block and Thoracic epidural as analgesia in breast surgeries

Abstract

Background: Breast surgery is an exceedingly common procedure and associated with an increased incidence of acute and chronic pain. These procedures cause significant acute pain and may progress to chronic pain states in 25–60% of cases. Regional anesthesia techniques may improve postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing breast surgery. Acute postoperative pain due to insufficient or ineffective pain control is a major risk factor for the development of chronic pain after breast surgery. This condition includes paresthesia, intercostobrachial neuralgia and phantom breast pain. Aim of the Work: we aimed at comparing the analgesic effectiveness and safety of pectoral (Pecs) block versus thoracic epidural in breast surgeries. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of the Pecs II block with thoracic epidural (TE) on sixty female patients ASA I-II, their ages ranged from 18- 65 years old scheduled for unilateral breast surgery. The patients were allocated randomly into two groups (n=30) according to type of regional anesthesia administrated. (Pecs block or TE). Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that, Pecs block caused hemodynamic stability, decreased the intensity of post-operative pain, reduced post-operative analgesic requirement, prolonged the time needed for first request of analgesia, decreased PONV. Therefore it can be considered as quite safe procedure and effective as well for intraoperative and postoperative pain control in breast surgeries. Conclusion: Whether it is more superior to thoracic epidural depends on the type and extent of surgery. For surgeries involving the axilla, Pecs block is required as part of axillary compartment block but for medial breast incisions, thoracic epidural offers denervation of anterior branches of the intercostal nerves, which Pecs block does not confer.