Comparison of Postoperative Pain Following Modified Radical Mastectomy under Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia versus General Anesthesia: A Randomized Control Trial.

Abstract

Background: Breast surgeries are commonly performed under general anesthesia. The aim of the study was to compare postoperative pain following modified radical mastectomy under thoracic epidural anesthesia versus general anesthesia with the use of laryngeal mask airway.

Materials and methods: This randomized controlled study was performed on hundred patients undergoing unilateral modified radical mastectomy. The patients were assigned into two equal groups, E and G. Group E patients received thoracic epidural anaesthesia, and group G received general anesthesia. The primary objective was to compare postoperative pain scores between the two groups. Secondary objectives included incidence of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice, cough, nausea and vomiting, perioperative analgesic requirement, patient and surgeon satisfaction, duration of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and any associated anesthesia complications.

Results: Both groups were similar with respect to demographics. Postoperative pain score was significantly lower in Group E at all time points. The perioperative analgesic requirement was significantly higher in Group G than in Group E, and this was statistically significant with P < 0.001. Duration of hospital stay and intraoperative hemodynamics were comparable between the two groups. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in Group G; however, surgeons were satisfied with both methods. Sore throat, cough, hoarseness of voice, nausea and vomiting, and duration of ICU stay were significantly higher in group G. Infiltration of local anesthetic in the axilla was required in 10% of the patients in the epidural group.

Conclusions: Although patients found general anesthesia more satisfying, thoracic epidural anesthesia provided significantly better postoperative analgesia compared with general anesthesia with laryngeal mask airway inpatients undergoing modified radical mastectomy and was associated with significantly lower ICU stay, comparable surgeon satisfaction with lower incidence of postoperative sore throat, nausea and vomiting, hoarseness of voice, and cough.