Serratus anterior plane block in modified radical mastectomy surgery: a case series

Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block enhances postoperative analgesia and recovery in thoracoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND

The serratus anterior muscle, located in the lateral aspect of the thorax, plays a crucial role in shoulder movement and stability. Thoracoscopic surgery, while minimally invasive, often results in significant postoperative pain, complicating patient recovery and potentially extending hospital stays. Traditional anesthesia methods may not adequately address this pain, leading to increased complications such as agitation due to inadequate pain management.

AIM

To evaluate the application value of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery, focusing on its effects on postoperative analgesia and rehabilitation.

METHODS

Eighty patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery between August 2021 and December 2022 were randomly divided into two groups: An observation group receiving ultrasound-guided SAPB and a control group receiving standard care without SAPB. Both groups underwent general anesthesia and were monitored for blood pressure, heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation, and pulse. The primary outcomes measured included mean arterial pressure (MAP), HR, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain, supplemental analgesic use, and incidence of agitation.

RESULTS

The observation group showed significantly lower cortisol and glucose concentrations at various time points post-operation compared to the control group, indicating reduced stress responses. Moreover, MAP and HR levels were lower in the observation group during and after surgery. VAS scores were significantly lower in the observation group at 1 h, 4 h, 6 h, and 12 h post-surgery, and the rates of analgesic supplementation and agitation were significantly reduced compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided SAPB significantly improves postoperative analgesia and reduces agitation in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. This technique stabilizes perioperative vital signs, decreases the need for supplemental analgesics, and minimizes postoperative pain and stress responses, underscoring its high application value in enhancing patient recovery and rehabilitation post-thoracoscopy.

Interventional Treatment Options for Post-mastectomy Pain

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Breast cancer is currently the most prevalent cancer diagnosed globally, and there is a significant gap in the availability of effective first-line treatment options. In addition to a cancer diagnosis, breast cancer patients face additional pain and morbidity after treatment. Radiation fibrosis, muscle spasms, muscle pain, neuropathy, and limited shoulder function are all potential side effects of breast cancer treatment and breast reconstruction. Post-mastectomy pain syndrome affects 25-60% of people after breast surgery. The current review moves forward to explain interventional pain management options that can be used to supplement conservative measures (physical therapy, medication, topical ointments) to help these patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

There are many new interventional procedures to treat chest wall pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity after breast surgery. Currently, the most commonly performed procedures are botulinum toxin injections, serratus anterior plane blocks, intercostobrachial nerve blocks, thoracic paravertebral nerve blocks, pectoralis nerve blocks, and erector spinae nerve blocks. Utilizing one of these interventional procedures, along with physical therapy and pharmacologic interventions, can help manage post-mastectomy pain syndrome in the millions of breast cancer patients diagnosed and treated every year.

The effects of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block on intraoperative opioid consumption and hemodynamic stability during breast surgery: A randomized controlled study

AIM

To determine effect of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on intraoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing oncoplastic breast surgery under general anesthesia.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Forty-four patients enrolled, aged 18 to 75 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III, undergoing elective oncoplastic breast surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to receive SAPB with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine + general anesthesia (group SAPB) or only general anesthesia (group control). The primary outcome was assessing the effect of SAPB on intraoperative remifentanil consumption. Patients were assessed for emergence time, hemodynamic parameters, doses of rescue drugs used to control hemodynamic parameters, and duration of stay in the recovery room.

RESULTS

Preoperative SAPB with 0.25% bupivacaine reduced intraoperative opioid consumption (851.2 ± 423.5 vs 1409.7 ± 756.1 µg, P = .019). Emergence time was significantly shorter in group SAPB (6.19 ± 1.90 minutes) compared to group control (9.50 ± 2.39 minutes; P < .001). There were no significant differences in the doses of rescue drugs used for systolic blood pressure and heart rate between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative SAPB with bupivacaine reduced intraoperative opioid consumption and shortened emergence time and duration of stay in the recovery unit, and hemodynamic stability was maintained without block-related complications.

Risk factors and nursing countermeasures of postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with breast cancer: A retrospective analysis

It is necessary to elucidate the potential risk factors of pulmonary infection to provide references for the management of breast cancer.Our study was a retrospective design, patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer in our department of breast surgery from January 2019 to November 2020 were included. The personal and clinical data of included patients with and without pulmonary infection were compared.A total of 234 patients with radical mastectomy were included, the incidence of pulmonary infection was 15.38% with 95%confidence interval (CI) 11.42% to 18.98%. There were significant differences in the age, body mass index, diabetes, duration of surgery, combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and duration of drainage between patients with and without pulmonary infections (all P < .05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥55 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.128, 95%CI 1.105-3.426), body mass index ≥ 24 kg/m2(OR 2.344, 95%CI 1.031-3.299), diabetes (OR 2.835, 95%CI 1.132-4.552), duration of surgery ≥120 minutes (OR 1.394, 95%CI 1.012-1.044), combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy (OR 3.122, 95%CI 1.124-5.273), duration of drainage ≥5 days (OR 1.851, 95%CI 1.112-2.045) might be the independent risk factors of pulmonary infection in patients after radical mastectomy(all P < .05). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the most commonly seen bacteria.The incidence of postoperative pulmonary infections in breast cancer patients is high, and there are many associated risk factors. The perioperative management of patients should be strengthened targeted on those risk factors in clinical practice.