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A Comparison of Local Infiltration Analgesia and Pecs Block for Analgesia in Mastectomy With Axillary Dissection - an Equivalence Study

Not Applicable
Conditions
Local Infiltration
Block
Anesthesia, Local
Mastectomy; Lymphedema
Interventions
Procedure: PECs Block
Procedure: Local infiltration
Registration Number
NCT03602794
Lead Sponsor
Louis Ng Xiang Long
Brief Summary

The investigators aim to compare the quality of pain relief provided by local infiltration analgesia delivered by surgeon and Pecs block delivered by anaesthetist under ultrasound guidance for patients undergoing mastectomy with axillary dissection.

Detailed Description

Total breast removal with armpit dissection may be a painful surgery. Pectoral nerve block (Pecs block) is common pain relief method used to reduce pain after breast surgery.

The Pecs block is a pain relief method technique at targeted body part. The Pecs block numbs nerves which supply sensation to the upper chest wall, armpit and upper arm. This procedure is only possible under ultrasound guidance and is carried out by the anaesthetist (medical specialist who administers anaesthetics) after patients are put under general anaesthesia.

Despite the advantages of Pecs block in pain management, this method is not always available to all patients due to various reasons. These reasons include the availability of ultrasound machine to facilitate the method, presence of anaesthetist to carry out the procedure and additional time required to perform this method in the operating theatre.

Another method has been modified by our surgeons (medical specialist who performs surgery, a different specialty from anaesthetist) to achieve pain relief among patients undergoing breast removal surgery. This method is called local infiltration analgesia (LIA). The pain control is achieved by having the surgeons to deliver a pain control drug surgically during the breast removal operation. LIA could be a good pain control alternative when a Pecs block could not be performed.

The investigators hope to compare the quality of pain relief provided by local infiltration analgesia delivered by surgeon and Pecs block delivered by anaesthetist under ultrasound guidance. The investigators hope to show that LIA delivered by surgeon is as effective as Pecs block in patients undergoing mastectomy with axillary dissection.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age above 21 years old
  • Able to give consent
  • Body weight > 50kg
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient's refusal and inability to give consent
  • Allergy or contraindicated to local anaesthetics, paracetamol, NSAIDS or opioids
  • Background history of chronic pain
  • Bilateral procedures

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PECs BlockPECs BlockTotal local anaesthetic dose: 30ml ropivacaine 0.5% •Pecs block will be performed by anaesthetist using ultrasound guidance in plane approach: 10ml ropivacaine 0.5% will be delivered at the plane between pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, another 20ml ropivacaine 0.5% will be delivered in the plane between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles at the level of the third and fourth ribs
Local InfiltrationLocal infiltrationLIA will be performed by surgeon during the operation. The upper skin flap will be raised in the standard manner for mastectomy. The lateral border of the major pectoralis muscle will then be visualised. A volume of 10 ml ropivacaine 0.5% will be delivered between the inter-fascial planes of the pectoral muscles. The lower skin flap will then be raised in the standard manner for mastectomy and the breast is raised off the pectoralis muscle exposing the serratus anterior muscle. A volume of 20 ml ropivacaine 0.5% will be delivered between the muscle planes of the serratus anterior and pectoralis minor muscles.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total morphine consumption in 24 hour after surgery24 hour

Total morphine consumption in 24 hour after surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Duration of analgesia24 hours

time to first rescue analgesia after administration of block

Postoperative pain score.24 hours

Post op pain score will be assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-10; 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain). The vital signs and pain score will be recorded at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h after surgery by the attending staff nurses blinded to the group allocation

Adverse Effects24 hours

Any adverse effects will be recorded (such as hypotension, respiratory depression, pruritus, shivering and urinary retention)

Postoperative nausea vomiting (PONV)24 hours

Postoperative nausea vomiting (PONV)

Intraoperative analgesia24 hours

total usage of IV Fentanyl intraoperatively

Operative time24 hrs

duration of surgery

Block performance time24 hours

time from needle insertion until needle exit from the skin

Block related complications24 hours

local anaesthetic toxicity

Post-operative complications24 hours

Wound infection

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Changi General Hospital

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

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