Combined thoracic paravertebral block and interscalene brachial plexus block for modified radical mastectomy:A case report

BACKGROUND Modified radical mastectomy(MRM)is the most common surgical treatment for breast cancer.General anesthesia poses a challenge in fragile MRM patients,including cardiovascular instability,insufficient postoperative pain control,nausea and vomiting.Thoracic paravertebral block(TPVB)is adequate for simple mastectomy,but its combination with interscalene brachial plexus block(IBPB)has not yet been proved to be an effective anesthesia method for MRM.CASE SUMMARY We describe our experience of anesthesia and pain management in 10 patients with multiple comorbidities.An ultrasound-guided TPVB was placed at T2-T3 and T5-T6,and combined with IBPB,with administration of 10,15 and 5 mL of 0.5%ropivacaine,respectively.A satisfactory anesthetic effect was proved by the absence of ipsilateral tactile sensation within 30 min.Propofol 3 mg/kg/h and oxygen supplementation via a nasal cannula were administered during surgery.None of the patients required additional narcotics,vasopressors,or conversion to general anesthesia.The maximum pain score was 2 on an 11-point numerical rating scale.Two patients required one dose of celecoxib 8 h postoperatively and none reported nausea or emesis.CONCLUSION This case series demonstrated that combined two-site TPVB and small-volume IBPB with sedation can be used as an alternative anesthetic modality for MRM,providing good postoperative analgesia.

Effect of Breast Conserving Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy(SLNB)and Modified Radical Mastectomy on Patients with Early Breast Cancer

Objective:To study the clinical effect of breast conserving combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy and modified radical mastectomy in patients with early breast cancer.Methods:Female patients with early breast cancer in clinical stage I and II were selected as the main objects of this study,the study period started from July 2017 to July 2020.In the breast conserving and sentinel lymph node biopsy patients,50 cases were randomly selected as the experimental group;50 cases in the modified radical mastectomy patients were randomly selected as the control group.The clinical intervention effect of the two groups was analyzed.Results:the perioperative indexes of the experimental group were shorter than those of the control group,the patients recovered faster,the incidence of complications in the experimental group was lower,and the quality of life scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant,the intervention effect of the experimental group was also better.Conclusion:The application of breast conserving and sentinel lymph node biopsy in the treatment of early breast cancer can promote the recovery of patients,shorten the operation time and reduce the rate of complications,which has significant clinical significance.

Observation on the Therapeutic Effects of Qingre Shengji Ointment(清热生肌膏)on Acute Radiation Dermatitis After Modified Radical Mastectomy

Objective:To observe the curative effect of Qingre Shengji Ointment(清热生肌膏)on acute radiation dermatitis caused by radiotherapy after modified radical mastectomy.Methods:100 patients with radiotherapy after modified radical mastectomy in our hospital from June 2019 to December 2020 were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,with 50 cases in each group.The treatment group was given Qingre Shengji Ointment(清热生肌膏)on the basis of routine nursing,and the intervention began until one week after radiotherapy,while the control group was given routine nursing.Observe and record the occurrence time of acute radiation dermatitis,the degree of acute radiation dermatitis,changes of skin erythema,pruritus,pain,changes of interleukin-6(IL-6)and curative effect were evaluated.The degree of dermatitis was evaluated by RTOG grading standard,the erythema was evaluated by TCM symptom score,and pruritus and pain were evaluated by visual analogue scale(VAS).Blood routine,liver and kidney function,electrocardiogram and other safety indicators and adverse reactions were recorded before and after the study.Results:The time of acute radiation dermatitis was 6-11 days(median 8 days)in the treatment group and 8-14 days(median 10 days)in the control group(P<0.01).The degree and probability of acute radiation dermatitis in the treatment group were 82%(41/50)in grade I,16%(8/50)in grade II and 2%(1/50)in grade III.The degree and probability of acute radiation dermatitis in the control group were 54%(27/50)in grade I,40%(20/50)in grade II and 6%(3/50)in grade III(P<0.05).The highest TCM symptom score of skin erythema in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.01).The results of generalized estimation equation show that,The VAS scores of pruritus and pain were(1.34±0.01)and(2.08±0.02)(Waldχ^(2)=1198.123,P<0.01)in the treatment group and(2.08±1.74)(Wald^(2)=1547.804,P<0.01)in the control group,respectively.Compared with the control group,the VAS scores of pruritus and pain were(1.14±0.01)and(2.08±1.74)(Wald^(2)=1547.804,P<0.01)in the treatment group.After observation,the curative effect of the treatment group was better than that of the control group(P<0.05),and the subjective symptoms of patients were obviously improved.After treatment,the level of IL-6 in the treatment group was significantly lower than that before treatment,and was lower than that in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion:Qingre Shengji Ointment(清热生肌膏)can prevent and treat acute radiation dermatitis to some extent,and its mechanism may be to inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines,reduce the degree of dermatitis,improve the quality of life of patients,and its safety is good.VAS score can subjectively evaluate the changes of itching and pain,and it is easy to use,so it is worthy of clinical application.

Effects of music therapy on depression and duration of hospital stay of breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy

Background Breast cancer remains the most important cancer among women worldwide. The disease itself and treatment may have a profound impact on the patients＇ psychological well being and quality of life. Depression is common in breast cancer patients and affects the therapeutic effects as well as prolongs the duration of hospital stay. However, few studies reported the effectiveness of music therapy on depression and duration of hospital stay of female patients with breast cancer after radical mastectomy. Methods One hundred and twenty subjects were recruited to this clinical trial and randomly allocated to two groups. The experimental group （n=60） received music therapy on the basis of routine nursing care, whereas the control group （n=-60） only received the routine nursing care. The whole intervention time was from the first day after radical mastectomy to the third time of admission to hospital for chemotherapy. Data of demographic characteristics and depression were collected by using the General Questionnaire and Chinese version of Zung Self-rating Depression Scale （ZSDS） respectively. One pre-test （the day before radical mastectomy） and three post-tests （the day before discharge from hospital, the second and third admission to hospital for chemotherapy） were utilized. Duration of hospital stay was calculated from the first day after radical mastectomy to the day of discharged from hospital. Results The mean depression score of all subjects was 37.19±6.30. Thirty-six cases （30%） suffered from depression symptoms, with 26 （72.2%） mild depression cases, 9 （25.0%） moderate depression cases, and 1 （2.8%） severe depression case. After music therapy, depression scores of the experimental group were lower than that of the control group in the three post-tests, with significant differences （F=39.13, P 〈0.001; F=82.09, P 〈0.001）. Duration of hospital stay after radical mastectomy of the experimental group （（13.62±2.04） days） was shorter than that of the control group （（15.53±2.75） days） with significant difference （t=-4.34, P 〈0.001）. Conclusions Music therapy has positive effects on improving depression of female patients with breast cancer, and duration of hospital stay after radical mastectomy can be reduced. It is worthy of applying music therapy as an alternative way of nursing intervention in clinical nursing process of caring female patients with breast cancer.

Comparison of remifentanil and fentanyl in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy or total hysterectomy

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of remifentanil and fentanyl in patients undergoing a modified radical mastectomy or total hysterectomy.Methods Fifty-four patients were evenly randomised into remifentanil group and fentanyl group. Anesthesia was induced by propofol (1-2 mg/kg) and either remifentanil (2μg/kg) or fentanyl (2. 5 μg/kg), and was maintained with inhalation of nitrous oxide in oxygen (2:1) and continuous infusion of either remifentanil (0. 2μg·kg-1·min-1) or fentanyl (0. 03μg·kg-1·min-1).Results The number of patients exhibiting light anesthesia responses in the remifentanil group during intubation and the maintenance of anesthesia was significantly less than that in the fentanyl group. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the fentanyl group were significantly higher than those in the remifentanil group during intubation, skin incision, maintenance of anesthesia and extubation. The time to opening eyes on command and the time for extubation after surgery was comparable between the two groups. More patients in the remifentanil group (25 patients) required bolus injection of morphine for postoperative pain relief than those in the fentanyl group (5 patients, P<0. 05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of side effects.Conclusions Under the condition of this study protocol, the anesthetic and analgesic effects of remifentanil are more potent than those of fentanyl. Remifentanil can offer superior intraoperative hemodynamic stability in comparison with fentanyl, and has no compromising recovery from anesthesia.

Effect of Ketamine Instillation on Acute and Chronic Post Mastectomy Pain, a Dose Finding Clinical Study

Background: Uncontrolled acute postoperative pain is considered a risk factor for the development of chronic pain afterward. Objectives: To explore the most effective dose of ketamine instillation (1 of 3 doses: 1, 2, or 3 mg/kg) for acute and chronic post mastectomy pain (PMP). Methods: Ninety female patients with cancer breast, aged (18 - 60 yrs), weighted (50 - 90 kg), scheduled for modified radical mastectomy, randomly allocated into 3 groups to receive ketamine instillation after surgical homeostasis before wound closure (1 of 3 doses;1, 2, or 3 mg/kg as A, B or C groups respectively) patients were followed up for 48 h for acute pain (total morphine consumption, the first request of analgesia and visual analog scale at rest and movement (VASR/M), chronic pain by Leeds assessment of neuropathic signs and symptoms (LANSS) for six-months, hemodynamics, and side effects. Results: Median total dose of morphine consumption was 8 mg (5 - 10) versus 6 mg (6 - 7) in A and B groups respectively in the first 48 h postoperatively. Lowest VASR/M was recorded in C then B and lastly A group (P = 0.037). No patients in the C group requested analgesia versus thirty (100%) and nine (30%) patients in the A and B groups respectively with the first request of analgesia was 12 h (5 - 36) in the A group versus 30 h (12 - 36) in the B group respectively (P Conclusion: Ketamine instillation effectively controlled acute post mastectomy pain (PMP) in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the incidence and severity of chronic pain in patients who undergoing a modified radical mastectomy.

Acute pulmonary embolism originating from upper limb venous thrombosis following breast cancer surgery:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Upper limb venous thrombosis(ULVT)is rarer than lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis,and is related to Paget-Schroetter syndrome,central venous catheterization,and malignancy.There are few reports of pulmonary embolism(PE)from upper-extremity vein thrombosis due to surgery.Herein,we report two cases of PE that originated from upper limb venous thrombosis on the surgical side in two patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer.These cases challenge the traditional theory that PE originate only from the lower extremities.CASE SUMMARY We describe two female patients,aged 68 and 65 years,respectively,who had undergone modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer.They did not have a central venous catheter and did not undergo preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy.They were transferred to the intensive care unit due to symptomatic PE on the first day after surgery.Colour Doppler ultrasound identified fresh thrombosis in their upper limb veins,which was the presumed source of the PE.They all received anticoagulation therapy,and one of them experienced bleeding that required discontinuation of the drug.Ultimately,they were discharged in stable condition.CONCLUSION ULVT as a source of PE after breast cancer surgery cannot be ignored.

Paget's Disease is Associated with Eleven Cancerous Regions:a Case Report and Therapeutic Strategy

Paget＇s disease of the breast is an uncommon disorder that accounts＇for 1% to 3% of all mammary tumors. The incidence of underlying carcinoma associated with Paget＇s disease has been reported in 82% to 100% of cases. The finding of underlying carcinoma reaches almost 100% when a palpable lump is also present. In this rare case, we described a patient presenting with Paget＇s disease but no palpable lump. However, we found 11 independent regions which were all invasive ductal carcinoma after the operation. Considering this patient, we should pay more attention to a multifocal and multicentric breast carcinoma associated with Paget＇s disease. Furthermore, we believe the mammography examination and a modified radical mastectomy are the most appropriate treatments for this population in clinical practice.