RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 EP045 A survey of regional anaesthetic/analgesic practices for oncological breast surgery across the United Kingdom
JF Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
JO Reg Anesth Pain Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP A63
OP A64
DO 10.1136/rapm-2023-ESRA.107
VO 48
IS Suppl 1
A1 Brown, Matthew
A1 Schutzer-Weissmann, John
A1 Jothiraj, Haren
A1 Ramdin, Candice
A1 Alwin Almeida, Smita Lisa
YR 2023
UL http://rapm.bmj.com/content/48/Suppl_1/A63.abstract
AB Background and Aims In 2020, 11.7% of cancers diagnosed were female breast cancers, making it the most common cancer worldwide(1). With alarming incidence, surgery remains the main modality of management of resectable breast cancer. Despite the PROSPECT(2) guidelines, the regional anaesthetic/analgesic practices for breast surgery vary greatly. This survey aims to determine the current regional anaesthetic/analgesic practices for oncological breast surgery across several centres of the UK.Methods 60 anaesthetists from the Association of Breast Surgery(3) database of hospitals across the UK were emailed survey (Microsoft) forms, in order to ascertain their regional anaesthetic/analgesic practices for oncological breast surgery. The choice of regional block (if performed), its timing and the follow-up practices were determined.Abstract EP045 Figure 1 Survey of the use of regional anaesthesia/analgesia for oncological breast surgeryAbstract EP045 Figure 2 The timing of the regional block (if used) for oncological breast surgeryAbstract EP045 Figure 3 The choice of the various regional techniques for oncological breast surgeryResults A 40% response to the survey was received, of which 62% responded positively to the use of regional blocks. 66% of anaesthestists preferred blocks post, rather than pre-induction (12%) or at the end of surgery (12%). Follow up of patients for persistent post-surgical pain is not being done at present in any of the centres surveyed. The pectoral nerve block (PECs I/II) and thoracic paravertebral blocks (PVB) were the preferred choices of blocks, with PECs I/II overtaking PVB for most breast surgeries. Serratus anterior plane (SAP) and Erector spinae plane block (ESP) are yet to gain their popularity, and axillary clearance has limited regional options at present.Conclusions Though supplementing a regional technique over GA alone, for oncological breast surgery has a well-established advantage(4), further work in the field will help identify the barriers in its execution.