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Pectoral nerve blocks and postoperative pain outcomes after mastectomy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
  1. Danielle Lovett-Carter1,
  2. Mark C Kendall1,
  3. Zachary L McCormick2,
  4. Edward I Suh1,
  5. Alexander D Cohen1 and
  6. Gildasio S De Oliveira1
  1. 1 Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
  2. 2 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Gildasio S De Oliveira, Brown University Division of Biology and Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA; Gildasio.deoliveira{at}lifespan.org

Abstract

Background and objectives Several studies have evaluated the effect of pectoral nerve blocks to improve postoperative analgesia following breast cancer surgery resulting in contradictory findings. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Pecs blocks on postoperative analgesia in women following mastectomies.

Methods We performed a quantitative systematic review in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Articles of randomized controlled trials that compared Pecs block (types I and II) to a control group in patients undergoing mastectomy were included. The primary outcome was total opioid consumption 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain scores and side effects. Meta-analysis was performed using the random effect model.

Results 7 randomized controlled trials with 458 patients were included in the analysis. The effect of pectoral nerve blocks on postoperative opioid consumption compared with control revealed a significant effect, weighted mean difference (WMD) (95% CI) of -−4.99 (−7.90 to −2.08) mg intravenous morphine equivalents (p=0.001). In addition, postoperative pain compared with control was reduced at 6 hours after surgery: WMD (95% CI) of −0.72 (−1.37 to −0.07), p=0.03, and at 24 hours after surgery: WMD (95% CI) of −0.91 (−1.81 to −0.02), p=0.04.

Discussion This quantitative analysis of randomized controlled trials demonstrates that the Pecs block is effective for reducing postoperative opioid consumption and pain in patients undergoing mastectomy. The Pecs block should be considered as an effective strategy to improve analgesic outcomes in patients undergoing mastectomies for breast cancer treatment.

  • pre-emptive analgesia
  • opioids, adverse effects
  • regional anesthesia
  • acute pain
  • postoperative pain

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Footnotes

  • Contributors All the authors listed qualifies to authorship.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Data availability statement There are no data in this work.