Comparison of the Effects of Pectoral Nerve Block and Local Infiltration Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain for Breast Reduction Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of the Pecs II block on postoperative pain in patients undergoing breastreduction surgery.Materials and Methods: This prospective, comparative, and observational study was conducted with 53patients, with American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II, between the ages of 18 and 65, and undergoingbilateral breast reduction surgery. The patients were divided into two groups: Pecs II block with generalanesthesia (Pecs group; n = 26) and local infiltration anesthesia with general anesthesia (control group; n =27). The patients’ demographic data, duration of surgery and anesthesia, hemodynamic parameters, perioperative analgesia requirements, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores (at zero, one, three, six, nine,and 12 hours postoperative), the number of patients who needed analgesia at least once, the length of thehospital stay, and block-related complications were recorded.Results: There was no statistical difference in terms of the duration of surgery and anesthesia and hemodynamic parameters. Intraoperative total fentanyl consumption (128.85 ± 25.19 mcg in the Pecs group and227.77 ± 44.58 mcg in the control group; P < .001) and postoperative analgesic requirement were significantly lower in the Pecs group (P < .001). The number of patients who needed analgesia at least once in thePecs group was four (15.3%). Postoperative VAS scores were significantly lower (P < .001) and the lengthof the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Pecs group (P < .001). No block-related complicationswere observed.Conclusion: Pecs II block with general anesthesia may significantly contribute to reducing intraoperativeand postoperative analgesia requirements and provide long-lasting and more effective postoperative pain inbreast reduction surgery