Online ISSN: 2515-8260

EFFICACY OF PECTORALIS NERVE BLOCKS IN REDUCING POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AND OPIOID CONSUMPTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING BREAST SURGERY: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

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DR JEYACHANDRAN S*, DR SAYYED JAHANGEER GULAB HUSSEN#

Abstract

Background: Breast surgery is a common procedure that often results in significant postoperative pain. Opioid medications are commonly used for pain management but are associated with adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, sedation, and respiratory depression. Pectoralis nerve blocks (PNBs) have emerged as an alternative method for postoperative pain control in breast surgery. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of PNBs in reducing postoperative pain and opioid consumption in this patient population. Breast surgery is a common procedure performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, and it often results in significant postoperative pain. The pain can be caused by various factors, including the surgical incision, tissue dissection, and the placement of drainage tubes. The use of opioid medications is the most common approach to manage postoperative pain in breast surgery, but it is associated with several adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, sedation, and respiratory depression. In recent years, regional anesthesia techniques such as pectoralis nerve blocks (PNBs) have emerged as an alternative method for postoperative pain control in breast surgery. PNBs involve the injection of local anesthetic around the pectoralis major muscle, blocking the innervation of the chest wall and breast tissue. PNBs have been shown to provide effective pain relief in breast surgery and have been associated with a reduction in opioid consumption and opioidrelated side effects. However, the evidence on the effectiveness of PNBs in breast surgery is still limited, and the optimal technique and timing of PNBs are still under investigation. Therefore, there is a need for well-designed randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of PNBs in reducing postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing breast surgery.

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