Effect of Dexmedetomidine Added to Modified Pectoral Block on Postoperative Pain and Stress Response in Patient Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy

摘要

Background: The most common surgical procedure for breast cancer is the modified radicalmastectomy (MRM), but it is associated with significant postoperative pain. Regional anesthesiacan reduce the stress response associated with surgical trauma.Objectives: Our aim is to explore the efficacy of 1 μg/kg dexmedetomedine added to anultrasound (US)-modified pectoral (Pecs) block on postoperative pain and stress response inpatients undergoing MRM.Study Design: A randomized, double-blind, prospective study.Setting: An academic medical center.Methods: Sixty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I–II (18–60 years old and weighing 50–90 kg) scheduled for MRM were enrolled and randomlyassigned into 2 groups (30 in each) to receive a preoperative US Pecs block with 30 mL of 0.25%bupivacaine only (group 1, bupivacaine group [GB]) or 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine plus 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine (group II, dexmedetomidine group [GD]). The patients were followed-up 48hours postoperatively for vital signs (heart rate [HR], noninvasive blood pressure [NIBP], respiratoryrate [RR], and oxygen saturation [Sao2]), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, time to first requestof rescue analgesia, total morphine consumption, and side effects. Serum levels of cortisol andprolactin were assessed at baseline and at 1 and 24 hours postoperatively.Results: A significant reduction in the intraoperative HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolicblood pressure (DBP) starting at 30 minutes until 120 minutes in the GD group compared to the GBgroup (P < 0.05) was observed. The VAS scores showed a statistically significant reduction in theGD group compared to the GB group, which started immediately up until 12 hours postoperatively(P < 0.05). There was a delayed time to first request of analgesia in the GD group (25.4 ± 16.4hrs) compared to the GB group (17 ± 12 hrs) (P = 0.029), and there was a significant decrease ofthe total amount of morphine consumption in the GD group (9 + 3.6 mg) compared to the GBgroup (12 + 3.6 mg) (P = 0.001). There was a significant reduction in the mean serum cortisol andprolactin levels at 1 and 24 hours postoperative in the GD patients compared to the GB patients(P < 0.05).Limitations: This study was limited by its sample size.Conclusion: The addition of 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine to an US-modified Pecs block has superioranalgesia and more attenuation to stress hormone levels without serious side effects, compared toa regular Pecs block in patients who underwent MRM.