Efficacy of ultrasound-stellate ganglion block in breast cancer with postoperative neuropathic pain

Objective To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-stellate ganglion block (US-SGB) with that of blind SGB (B-SGB) in the management of breast cancer patients with postoperative neuropathic pain (NP). Methods Forty-eight breast cancer patients with postoperative neuropathic pain were randomly assigned to either US-SGB group (N = 24) or B-SGB group (N = 24). The mean age of US-SGB and B-SGB groups were (51.35 ± 5.63) and (49.54 ± 4.77) years, respectively. Two blockade procedures with 8-day interval were performed on the affected side. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was assessed before treatment, and in the 4th and 8th week after treatment. Results In both groups, VAS scores were significantly decreased after 4 and 8 weeks. The VAS score in US-SGB group was decreased from 5.44 ± 1.52 before treatment to 2.68 ± 1.33 at 4th week and to 1.32 ± 0.85 at 8th week after treatment, while in B-SGB group decreased from 5.36 ± 1.21 before treatment to 3.31 ± 1.27 at 4th week and to 2.09 ± 1.02 at 8th week after treatment. The alleviation of pain in US-SGB group was more significant than that in B-SGB group (4th week: t = 2.251, P = 0.038; 8th week: t = 1.971, P = 0.029). Conclusion Both US-SGB and B-SGB techniques were effective in relieving pain in breast cancer patients with neuropathic pain. However, with postoperative favorable clinical efficacy, US-SGB was better in pain relief in comparison with B-SGB.