NCT02453516

The Effect of the Serratus Block on Pain Control After Breast Surgery

The Effect of The Serratus Block on Analgesia After Breast Surgery A Randomized Controlled Double-Blinded Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2 / Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: Women's College Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Surgery for breast cancer is associated with significant pain. The serratus nerve block targets the interfascial plane either below or above the serratus muscle, blocking thereby the lateral cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerves. The purpose of this randomized controlled double-blinded study is to see whether the addition of a serratus nerve block to a general anesthesia results in a better postoperative pain control in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer.

Detailed description

The prevalence of severe acute postoperative pain after breast surgery is high. Regional anesthesia has the potential to provide superior pain relief with fewer side effects compared to standard systemic opioid therapy. The search for a regional anesthesia technique for breast surgery has been ongoing as this technique needs to be time efficient, relatively risk-free and also practicable in an out-patient setting. The serratus block is a promising technique that may combine these advantages.

Conditions

• Anesthesia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Serratus Block	Ultrasound-guided nerve block using ropivacaine 0.5% (0.4ml/kg) injected between the serratus anterior and external intercostal muscles
PROCEDURE	Placebo Block	Subcutaneous injection of 1ml sterile normal saline solution in the midaxillary line
DRUG	ropivacaine	Drug indicated for regional anesthesia
DRUG	epinephrine	Drug indicated to prolong the action of regional anesthesia
OTHER	sterile saline	Neutral injection (no drug involved)

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-10-29
• Primary completion: 2019-09-11
• Completion: 2019-12-11
• First posted: 2015-05-25
• Last updated: 2020-01-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada