A Comparative Study between Ultrasound Guided Pectoral Nerve Block Type II versus Intravenous Patient Controlled Analgesia for Intra-Operative and Post-Operative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy

• Published in: QJM : An International Journal of Medicine Vol. 117; no. Supplement_1
• Main Authors: Ali, Eman Adel, Salama Awad, Hala Gomaa, Tharwat Sayed, Ayman Ibraheem, Salem Ahmed, Sarah Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 03.07.2024
• DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcae070.040
• ISSN: 1460-2725

Abstract Background Breast surgery is becoming more and more common. Patients are often middle-aged women and with high public awareness around issues of breast cancer. The numbers are increasing. Breast surgery is an exceedingly common procedure and associated with an increased incidence of acute and chronic pain. Regional anaesthesia techniques may improve post-operative analgesia for patients undergoing breast surgery. Aim of the Work The primary aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of PECS block versus PCA with iv morphine to provide prolonged post-operative analgesia. The secondary objective is to identify the side effects of both techniques as post-operative analgesic techniques. Patients and Methods This study is a randomized clinical trial study conducted in Ain-shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt for 6 months after medical ethical committee approval. The participants were allocated randomly into two groups of 25 patients each: group A: Patients received general anaesthesia followed by PECS block at the end of the operation before extubation, group B: Patients received general anaesthesia followed by the PCA at the end of surgery after extubation. Results The VAS score in the PECS group was statistically significantly lower at the 1st, 2nd and 4th hours. In this case, the use of PECS for postoperative analgesia is as effective as intravenous Morphine PCA in pain treatment, but with less systemic side effect as the nausea and vomiting is significantly higher in the PCA group than the PECS group at the 6th hour, however, the need of intra operative opioids in PCA group is significant. Conclusion In modified radical mastectomy, PECS block is as effective as intravenous Morphine PCA in pain treatment. Compared with intravenous PCA, PECS block can be considered as a more preferable method because it can avoid the systemic actions of morphine used for PCA, and can decrease the need of analgesia intra-operative, however PCA analgesic effect last longer, less invasive technique and easier to be used while PECS block require hand skills and limited to 24 hours analgesia only.