The new serratus anterior plane block is more effective than the SPB block for early postoperative analgesia following modified radical mastectomy surgery.

Ruizhen Gao, Gang Zhou, Wanting Zhu, Mingyu Zhang, Aihua Shu, Mi Zhou

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial

In one paragraph

Trial report in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Postoperative outcomes of combined interpectoral-pectoserratus versus combined deep-superficial serratus anterior plane blocks in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery: A prospective randomized study.Scientific reports · 2026
Trial

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ruizhen GaoDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, 2 Jiefang Road, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei, China.

Gang ZhouDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, 2 Jiefang Road, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei, China.

Wanting ZhuDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, 2 Jiefang Road, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei, China.

Mingyu ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, 2 Jiefang Road, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei, China.

Aihua ShuDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, 2 Jiefang Road, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei, China.

Mi ZhouDepartment of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, 2 Jiefang Road, Xiling District, Yichang City, Hubei, China. zhoumi2012@126.com.

Funding

Natural Science Foundation of Yichang Municipality A22-2-043

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Serratus anterior plane block (SPB) as a regional anesthesia technique is used for analgesia in modified radical mastectomy (MRM). The new serratus anterior plane (SAP) block is a novel approach that has been described recently. This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness and safety of SAP block for pain management after MRM and compare the analgesic effects of SPB and SAP block with those of a control group during the postoperative period of MRM. In a prospective randomized controlled trial, sixty patients (n = 60) who underwent MRM surgery received either SPB or SAP block analgesia. The primary endpoint was the visual analog scale (VAS) score (at rest or with movement) at 2 h after MRM. The secondary outcomes were VAS scores at different time points (6, 12, 24 h) after MRM, stress hormone levels, and the consumption of opioid analgesics during the surgery. Sixty subjects were enrolled. The VAS scores with movement at 2 h postoperation were significantly lower in the SAP group than in the SPB group (P = 0.027). The patients in the SAP and SPB groups had lower VAS scores compared with the Control group at 2 and 6 h after MRM, both at rest and with movement (P < 0.001). The SPB and SAP blocks significantly reduced the consumption of opioid analgesics during surgery compared with the control group (P < 0.001). This study revealed that both SPB and SAP blocks had good postoperative analgesic effects on modified radical mastectomy surgery, reduced the consumption of opioids, and decreased the stress response during surgery compared with the control group. Compared with SPB, the SAP block may have better analgesic effects during the early postoperative period of modified radical mastectomy surgery.Trial registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Date of Registration: 08/08/2021, registration number: ChiCTR2100049692).

Indexed as

AnalgesiaMastectomy, Modified RadicalNerve BlockPostoperative PainAdultAgedAnalgesics, OpioidBreast NeoplasmsFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPain ManagementPain MeasurementProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAnalgesics, OpioidModified radical mastectomyPostoperative painSerratus anterior plane blockThoracic fascial plane block

Identifiers

PMID40624146

DOI10.1016/j.jclinane.2018.10.040

PMCPMC12234743

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.