Document Detail


Patient outcomes after axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer: use of postoperative continuous local anesthesia infusion.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16488434     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Although considered a safe surgical procedure, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is associated with postoperative numbness, paresthesias, pain, and muscle weakness. Despite meticulous surgical technique and the absence of long thoracic or thoracodorsal nerve injury, the risk of these complications are reported as great as 35% to 50%, with a subset of patients developing chronic pain syndromes. METHODS: Female patients (n = 27) undergoing Level I-II ALND for breast cancer were recruited. After ALND, patients were randomized to three groups. Group 1 received standard axillary lymph node dissection. Patients assigned to group 2 or 3 (double-blinded) received 120 h continuous 0.9% saline solution or 0.5% bupivacaine using a catheter placed into the axilla and delivered by an elastomeric pump device. After routine postoperative care, patients were discharged with oral opioid analgesics. Twice-daily assessment of pain, sedation, and nausea were conducted using validated visual-analog scale measures. Daily and total opioid analgesic requirements after surgery were recorded. RESULTS: Patients treated with a continuous infusion of bupivacaine experienced significantly lower pain scores (P < 0.001) during the first 5 postoperative days. Postoperative opioid analgesic requirements also were significantly decreased in the bupivacaine group, and these effects persisted until postoperative day 14 (P < 0.001). Concomitant to the observed decreases in pain and oral opioid requirements, nausea and morning sedation also were significantly reduced. There were no pump-related complications, wound infections, or postoperative axillary fluid collections. CONCLUSIONS: The use of continuous administration of bupivicaine after ALND significantly decreases pain and opioid analgesic requirements, with concomitant decreases in nausea and sedation. This study provides encouraging evidence of the therapeutic benefits of continuous infusion of local anesthesia and may represent a valuable adjunct for surgical patients who require ALND, including those with breast cancer and melanoma.
Authors:
Scott R Schell
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2006-02-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of surgical research     Volume:  134     ISSN:  0022-4804     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Surg. Res.     Publication Date:  2006 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-06-19     Completed Date:  2006-07-26     Revised Date:  2007-10-02    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376340     Medline TA:  J Surg Res     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  124-32     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Surgical Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/UMDNJ, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage*
Axilla
Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
Bupivacaine / administration & dosage*
Conscious Sedation
Double-Blind Method
Female
Humans
Lymph Node Excision* / adverse effects
Middle Aged
Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy*
Pilot Projects
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / epidemiology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Analgesics, Opioid; 0/Anesthetics, Local; 2180-92-9/Bupivacaine
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
J Surg Res. 2007 Sep;142(1):3-6   [PMID:  17543341 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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