Abstract：Objective To evaluate the safety and efficiency of ultrasound-guided posterior approach to intercostal nerve block for breast lump resection.Methods Sixty patients scheduled to undergo breast mass excision were randomly assigned to receive intercostal nerve block using either an ultrasound-guided posterior approach(group A,n=30) or a traditional approach(group B,n=30).Respiratory rate(RR),heart rate(HR),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),mean arterial pressure(MAP),pulse oximetry(SpO2) and VAS scores were determined before nerve block(T0),at 1(T1),5(T2) and 10 minutes(T3) after nerve block,and at the end of surgery(T4).Operation time,the time of block performance,stabbed intercostal vessel rate,complications(pneumothorax and local anesthetics poisoning),and the number of patients who required conversion to general anesthesia for failed block were recorded in both groups.Results There were no significant differences in the RR,HR,SBP,DBP,MAP and SpO2 between the two groups at each time point of the T1,T2,T3,T4(P>0.05).Compared with group B,VAS scores measured at T1 and the number of patients who required conversion to general anesthesia for failed block obviously decreased in group A(P<0.05).In addition,stabbed intercostal vessel rate in group A was significantly lower than that in group B(0.0% vs 20.0%,P<0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided posterior approach to intercostal nerve block is safe and effective for breast lump resection.
2012, Vol. 52 
