Background: The most common surgical procedure for breast cancer is the modified radical
mastectomy (MRM), but it is associated with significant postoperative pain. Regional anesthesia
can reduce the stress response associated with surgical trauma.
Objectives: Our aim is to explore the efficacy of 1 μg/kg dexmedetomedine added to an
ultrasound (US)-modified pectoral (Pecs) block on postoperative pain and stress response in
patients 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 randomly
assigned 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 48
hours postoperatively for vital signs (heart rate [HR], noninvasive blood pressure [NIBP], respiratory
rate [RR], and oxygen saturation [Sao2]), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, time to first request
of rescue analgesia, total morphine consumption, and side effects. Serum levels of cortisol and
prolactin were assessed at baseline and at 1 and 24 hours postoperatively.
Results: A significant reduction in the intraoperative HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic
blood pressure (DBP) starting at 30 minutes until 120 minutes in the GD group compared to the GB
group (P < 0.05) was observed. The VAS scores showed a statistically significant reduction in the
GD 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 ± 16.4
hrs) compared to the GB group (17 ± 12 hrs) (P = 0.029), and there was a significant decrease of
the total amount of morphine consumption in the GD group (9 + 3.6 mg) compared to the GB
group (12 + 3.6 mg) (P = 0.001). There was a significant reduction in the mean serum cortisol and
prolactin 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 superior
analgesia and more attenuation to stress hormone levels without serious side effects, compared to
a regular Pecs block in patients who underwent MRM.