Serratus anterior plane block reduces the prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain after modified radical mastectomy: A randomized controlled trial

To determine whether ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is associated with decreased prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) after modified radical mastectomy. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. University hospital. We enrolled 198 patients aged 18–65 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to II, undergoing unilateral modified radical mastectomy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive SAPB with 30 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine (SAPB group) or 0.9% normal saline (Control group). The primary outcome was the prevalence of CPSP three months after surgery. Secondary outcomes were area under the curve of the numeric rating scale pain scores over 24 h, postoperative 24-h morphine consumption, quality of recovery, length of post-anesthesia care unit stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, dizziness, SAPB-related adverse events, the prevalence of CPSP at six months, and pain-related function at three and six months. Preoperative SAPB with 0.5% ropivacaine reduced the prevalence of CPSP at three postoperative months from 46/89 (51.7%) to 22/90 (25.6%), relative risk (95% confidence interval): 0.47 (0.31–0.72), P