Simple mastectomy and axillary lymph node biopsy performed under paravertebral block and light sedation in a patient with severe cardiorespiratory comorbidities: Proposed management of choice in high-risk breast surgery patients

摘要

An increasing number of elderly women with multiple comorbidities present with breast cancer which is potentially amenable to surgery, but there is a high risk of perioperative complications if general anesthesia is used. ? These patients might be denied definitive surgical management of their disease, leading to a poorer prognosis than younger patients with a similar disease stage. ? This case report describes a simple mastectomy and axillary node biopsy which was performed successfully under paravertebral block and light background sedation in a patient for whom general anesthesia would have posed unacceptable risks. ? The use of regional anesthesia alone for high-risk mastectomy patients is recommended as the technique of choice for these women.