The effects of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block on intraoperative opioid consumption and hemodynamic stability during breast surgery: A randomized controlled study

To determine effect of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on intraoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing oncoplastic breast surgery under general anesthesia. METHODS: This study was conducted as a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Forty-four patients enrolled, aged 18 to 75 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to III, undergoing elective oncoplastic breast surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to receive SAPB with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine + general anesthesia (group SAPB) or only general anesthesia (group control). The primary outcome was assessing the effect of SAPB on intraoperative remifentanil consumption. Patients were assessed for emergence time, hemodynamic parameters, doses of rescue drugs used to control hemodynamic parameters, and duration of stay in the recovery room. RESULTS: Preoperative SAPB with 0.25% bupivacaine reduced intraoperative opioid consumption (851.2 ± 423.5 vs 1409.7 ± 756.1 µg, P = .019). Emergence time was significantly shorter in group SAPB (6.19 ± 1.90 minutes) compared to group control (9.50 ± 2.39 minutes; P < .001). There were no significant differences in the doses of rescue drugs used for systolic blood pressure and heart rate between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative SAPB with bupivacaine reduced intraoperative opioid consumption and shortened emergence time and duration of stay in the recovery unit, and hemodynamic stability was maintained without block-related complications.