Impact of opioid-free general anesthesia with locoregional blocks during breast cancer surgery on systemic inflammatory response: results from a randomized controlled trial.
Fabrizio Brescia, Andrea Favero, Ilenia Segatto et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of opioid-free general anesthesia with locoregional blocks (OfGA) versus traditional opioid-based general anesthesia (GA) on postoperative inflammation in breast cancer patients undergoing quadrantectomy. The OfGA group showed stable or minimally increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), while the GA group had significant increases at both 1 and 24 hours post-surgery (median change +0.13 and +0.64, p<0.0001).
Key findings
- GA patients had a median NLR increase of +0.13 at 1 hour and +0.64 at 24 hours post-surgery (p<0.0001).
- OfGA patients exhibited stable NLR changes, with a median change of -0.08 at 1 hour and +0.11 at 24 hours (p=ns).
- Inflammatory cytokines significantly increased in the GA group compared to the OfGA group.
- Pain management was similar in both groups, but OfGA resulted in fewer side effects.
Why it matters
Understanding the impact of anesthesia techniques on postoperative inflammation can guide clinicians in optimizing pain management strategies and improving recovery outcomes for breast cancer surgery patients.