Efficacy of ultrasound-stellate ganglion block in breast cancer with postoperative neuropathic pain

<strong>Objective</strong> To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-stellate ganglion block (US-SGB) with that of blind SGB (B-SGB) in the management of breast cancer patients with postoperative neuropathic pain (NP). <strong>Methods</strong> Forty-eight breast cancer patients w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cheng-jun LIU, Hai-feng CAI, Dian-chen LIU, Yan-qing LIU, Zhi-guo SUN, Ning LI, Juan ZHANG, Yang ZHANG, Hao DAI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tianjin Huanhu Hospital 2013-10-01
Series:Chinese Journal of Contemporary Neurology and Neurosurgery
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Online Access:http://www.cjcnn.org/index.php/cjcnn/article/view/826
Description
Summary:<strong>Objective</strong> To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-stellate ganglion block (US-SGB) with that of blind SGB (B-SGB) in the management of breast cancer patients with postoperative neuropathic pain (NP). <strong>Methods</strong> Forty-eight breast cancer patients with postoperative neuropathic pain were randomly assigned to either US-SGB group (N = 24) or B-SGB group (N = 24). The mean age of US-SGB and B-SGB groups were (51.35 ± 5.63) and (49.54 ± 4.77) years, respectively. Two blockade procedures with 8-day interval were performed on the affected side. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was assessed before treatment, and in the 4th and 8th week after treatment. <strong>Results</strong> In both groups, VAS scores were significantly decreased after 4 and 8 weeks. The VAS score in US-SGB group was decreased from 5.44 ± 1.52 before treatment to 2.68 ± 1.33 at 4th week and to 1.32 ± 0.85 at 8th week after treatment, while in B-SGB group decreased from 5.36 ± 1.21 before treatment to 3.31 ± 1.27 at 4th week and to 2.09 ± 1.02 at 8th week after treatment. The alleviation of pain in US-SGB group was more significant than that in B-SGB group (4th week: t = 2.251, P = 0.038; 8th week: t = 1.971, P = 0.029). <strong>Conclusion</strong> Both US-SGB and B-SGB techniques were effective in relieving pain in breast cancer patients with neuropathic pain. However, with postoperative favorable clinical efficacy, US-SGB was better in pain relief in comparison with B-SGB. <br />
ISSN:1672-6731