Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40887728›Full record

ArticleJournal of breast cancer2025

Comparison of Pectoral Nerve and Paravertebral Blocks for Postoperative Pain Management in Breast Surgery: A Multicentre Randomised Double-Blind Trial.

Roberto Dossi, Edoardo Tasciotti, Kuijk van Sander, Paolo Maino, Vladimir Reyes Lozano, Andrea Saporito, Eva Koetsier

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of breast cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02645474 (Is PECS Block Equivalent to Paravertebral Block in Preventing Postoperative Pain After Breast Surgery? A Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind, Multicenter Trial), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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.

NCT02645474 phase4completednot on this map

Is PECS Block Equivalent to Paravertebral Block in Preventing Postoperative Pain After Breast Surgery? A Randomized, Controlled, Double-blind, Multicenter Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorOspedale Regionale Bellinzona e ValliRan2018 to 2023Enrolled23ConditionsOther Acute Postoperative PainArmsPECS block with ropivacaine, Paravertebral block with ropivacaine, Ropivacaine
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Roberto Dossi *Service of Anaesthesiology, Ospedale Regionale Bellinzona e Valli, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Bellinzona, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2887-5955
Edoardo Tasciotti *Service of Anaesthesiology, Ospedale Regionale Bellinzona e Valli, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Bellinzona, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0574-4442
Kuijk van SanderDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2796-729X
Paolo MainoPain Management Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5898-145X
Vladimir Reyes LozanoDivision of Anaesthesiology, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9678-8853
Andrea SaporitoService of Anaesthesiology, Ospedale Regionale Bellinzona e Valli, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Bellinzona, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6712-2163
Eva KoetsierPain Management Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Lugano, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8786-0665

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePectoral nerve (PECS) blocks have gained popularity for pain management in breast cancer surgery because of their ease of use and lower risk profile. However, their efficacy compared with that of paravertebral block (PVB) remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the non-inferiority of the PECS block to PVB for postoperative analgesia.

methodsThis prospective, randomized, double-blind trial included adult patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists status 1-3) scheduled for elective breast cancer surgery. The patients were randomized to receive either a PECS block or PVB. The primary outcome was block success, defined as a Visual Analogue Scale pain score of < 30 at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours postoperatively. The secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, block performance time, functional recovery, and patient satisfaction.

resultsOf the 42 patients, 23 received a PECS block and 19 received PVB. Successful blocks were achieved in 69.6%, 81.8%, and 77.3% of patients with PECS blocks and 63.2%, 68.4%, and 88.9% of patients with PVB at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours, respectively. The non-inferiority of PECS was significant at 30 minutes and 6 hours but inconclusive at 24 hours. The PECS blocks were performed faster (7 vs. 14 minutes,

conclusionOur study shows that the PECS block is non-inferior to the PVB in managing postoperative pain after breast surgery, offering advantages such as reduced administration time and a favorable safety profile. These findings support the integration of the PECS block into pain management strategies for breast cancer surgery.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02645474.

Indexed as

AnalgesiaMastectomyNerve BlockPain, Postoperative

Identifiers

PMID40887728
PMCPMC12411074

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Registered trials

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.