Comparison of the efficacy of ultrasound guided pectoralis-II block and intercostal approach to paravertebral block (proximal intercostal block) among patients undergoing conservative breast surgery: A randomised control study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Regional anesthesia techniques have attributed a multimodal dimension to pain management after breast surgery. The intercostal approach to paravertebral block has been gaining interest, becoming an alternative to conventional paravertebral block, devoid of complexities in its approach, being recognized as the proximal intercostal block. Parallel to the widespread acceptance of fascial plane blocks in breast surgery, pectoralis II block has emerged as being non-inferior to paravertebral block. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two independent fascial plane blocks, proximal intercostal block and pectoralis II block, in breast conservation surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized control, pilot study included 40 patients, randomly allocated among two groups: proximal intercostal block and pectoralis II block. RESULTS: The pectoralis II block group had significantly lower pain scores at rest in the immediate postoperative period but became comparable with the proximal intercostal block group in the late postoperative period. Pain scores on movement though were lower at 0 h postoperatively and became comparable with the proximal intercostal block group subsequently. Although the pectoralis II group had earlier recovery in the post-anesthesia care unit, the overall time to discharge from the hospital was comparable and not influential. Both groups had high patient satisfaction scores and similar perioperative opioid consumption. Sedation, time to first rescue analgesia, and postoperative nausea vomiting scores were comparable. CONCLUSION: Fascial plane blocks in the form of pectoralis II and proximal intercostal block facilitate pain alleviation, early return to shoulder arm exercise, and enhanced recovery, which should render them to be incorporated into multimodal interdisciplinary pain management in breast conservation surgery.