Strategies to reduce the postoperative pain in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery include the use of Interpectoral (PECs) block, first described by Blanco in 2011, but its feasibility and efficacy in everyday clinical practice has been debated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the routine feasibility and effectiveness of PECs block added to general anesthesia to reduce postoperative pain and opioids consumption in the Breast Unit's patients. From June to December 2021 all patients undergoing surgery were included to receive PECs1 block before general anesthesia; clinical and outcome data were prospectively collected. Fifty-eight out of 61 patients undergoing major or minor procedures were enrolled. The average time of block execution was 93.56 s (SD 42.45), with only one minor complication reported. Very low doses of intra and postoperative opioids consumption were reported, regardless of the type of surgery. The pain NRS resulted under the median value of 1 point [IQR 3] in the early postoperative period to 0 at 24-48 h, with beneficial effects lasting at least for two weeks, since no opioids consumption in the postoperative period had been reported, only 31% of patients required paracetamol with a dosage of 0.34 g (SD 0.548); comparison between type of surgery and different regimens of general anesthesia were reported. Routine use of PECs block, in addition to general anesthesia, was found to be safe, feasible and effective, resulting in low intraoperative opioids consumption, very low postoperative pain and analgesic requirement, with effects lasting up to two weeks after surgery.
Keywords: Breast surgery; Opioid consumption; PECs block; Pectoral nerve block; Postoperative analgesia; Postoperative pain.
© 2023. Italian Society of Surgery (SIC).