The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is gaining popularity as a regional anesthetic technique for major breast cancer surgery. Although there is controversy about its mechanism of action, emerging evidence suggests that clinical analgesia observed after ESPB in breast surgery may be due to rapid and sustained local anesthetic absorption from the injection site. Hence intravenous LA infusion (IVLI) during the perioperative period could offer an effective alternative to invasive ESPB.
Major Breast Cancer Surgery (BCS), including mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy (MRM), is a globally prevalent procedure. Unfortunately, it is associated not only with significant acute postoperative pain but also a high incidence of chronic postsurgical pain (30-50%) . To improve outcomes, regional anesthetic techniques have been explored, including thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) and ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB). While TPVB is considered the gold standard, it carries potential complications such as pleural puncture and pneumothorax. In contrast, ultrasound-guided (USG) ESPB is gaining popularity due to its technical simplicity and safety. However, controversy surrounds its mechanism of action, particularly the variable cutaneous sensory loss over anterior thoracic dermatomes. An emerging theory suggests that ESPB's clinical analgesia results from rapid and sustained local anesthetic (LA) absorption from the injection site. As an alternative, intravenous LA infusion (IVLI) during the perioperative period may offer equivalent analgesia without the invasiveness of ESPB. IV lidocaine, known for its substantial analgesic properties, persists beyond its typical duration of action, likely through mechanisms beyond sodium channel blockade. Although IV lidocaine has been established as part of multimodal analgesia in various perioperative settings, data specific to major BCS remain scarce. In this prospective, multicenter, randomized, triple-blind trial, the investigators aim to compare quality of recovery (assessed using the validated Quality of Recovery 15 \[QoR15\] score) between USG ESPB and IVLI. The investigator's hypothesis is that the quality of recovery after major breast cancer surgery with IVLI will be comparable to that achieved with USG ESPB.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
80
After obtaining the appropriate sonographic window, under strict aseptic precautions, the block needle is inserted in the plane of the US beam in a caudad to cranial direction until the tip is in contact with the transverse process (TP) at its lateral aspect. A test bolus of 0.9% saline (1-2 ml) is injected and sonographic evidence of erector spinae muscle displacement (posterior) from the underlying TP is sought to ensure that the tip of the block needle is indeed at the erector spinae muscle plane. The study drug from the 25 ml syringe with the label 'study drug for ESPB' (containing either 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine with 1:200,000 adrenaline or 0.9% saline depending on the group allocation) is injected in small aliquots over a minute. The anaesthesiologist performing the block and the patient is blinded to the group allocation. Successful injection reveals a clearly delineated posterior displacement of the erector spinae muscle.
Following ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (USG ESPB), patients will be transferred to the operating room. General anesthesia (GA) will be administered according to a standardized protocol. Study Drug Infusion: Immediately after securing the airway, an intravenous infusion from a 50 ml syringe labeled "study drug for IVI" will commence. The study drug contains either 30 ml of 2% lidocaine or 0.9% saline, depending on group allocation. The infusion begins with a bolus rate of 0.1 ml/kg over 10 minutes and continues at 0.1 ml/kg/hr until surgical wound closure.
The First Affiliated Hospital
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
North District Hospital
Sheung Shui, Hong Kong
Quality of Recovery
Quality of Recovery-15: a minimum score of 0 (poor recovery) and a maximum score of 150 (excellent recovery)
Time frame: At 24 hours post surgery
Area under the curve of postoperative pain
Area under the curve of postoperative pain numerical rating score at rest and movement
Time frame: Over the first 24 hours post surgery
Postoperative opioid consumption
Total postoperative morphine equivalent consumption
Time frame: At 24 and 48 hour post surgery
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