Comparison of the Analgesic Efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block in Breast-Conserving Surgery Versus Serratus Anterior Block Combined With Additional Pecto-Intercostal II Block

Comparison of Analgesic Efficacy and Opioid Consumption of Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Serratus Anterior Block With Additional Pecto-Intercostal II Block in Breast-Conserving Surgery

This prospective randomized study will compare the effects of Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) and Serratus Anterior Plane Block combined with Pectoral Nerve Block Type II (SAPB + PECS II) on intraoperative analgesia and postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. Seventy patients (ASA I-III, aged 18-75 years) will be randomized into two groups using the sealed envelope method. Ultrasound-guided blocks will be performed preoperatively by the same anesthesiologist, with Group 1 receiving ESPB and Group 2 receiving a combined SAPB + PECS II technique performed through a single skin puncture (single needle entry site) with sequential injections into the two target fascial planes. All patients will undergo surgery under general anesthesia and receive postoperative analgesia via morphine patient-controlled analgesia. Pain scores and total opioid consumption will be statistically analyzed, with p < 0.05 considered significant.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Regional Anaesthesia; Pain After Surgery; Pain Management in Breast Surgery
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Erector Spinae Plane Block; Procedure: SAPB + PECS II Technique

Detailed Description

Study Design and Methods The study planned to compare the effects of Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) and Serratus Anterior Plane Block combined with Pectoral Nerve Block Type II (SAPB + PECS II) on intraoperative analgesia and postoperative opioid requirement in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery will be conducted at Kayseri City Hospital with voluntary participants.

________________________________________ Anesthesia and Block Procedures All patients will undergo surgery under general anesthesia. To provide intraoperative and postoperative analgesia, block procedures will be performed in the preoperative period before induction of general anesthesia by the same experienced anesthesiologist. The effectiveness of the blocks will be evaluated using the pinprick test following the procedure.

Group 1: ESPB Technique Standard preoperative monitoring, including ECG, SpO₂, and non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), will be applied under operating room conditions. Patients will be positioned in the lateral decubitus position with the operative side facing upward. A PHILIPS ClearVue 550 ultrasound device with a high-resolution linear probe (12-5 MHz) will be used. The probe and cable will be covered with a sterile sheath, sterile ultrasound gel will be applied, and skin antisepsis will be achieved using povidone-iodine.

The transverse process beneath the erector spinae muscle will be targeted. A 22G atraumatic, nerve stimulator-equipped block needle (B. Braun Stimuplex® Ultra 360, 0.7 × 80 mm) will be advanced in-plane from lateral to medial. After confirmation of correct placement by saline hydrodissection, 35 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected slowly, and longitudinal spread will be observed. Block success will be assessed using the pinprick test.

________________________________________ Group 2: SAPB + PECS II Technique Standard monitoring will be applied. Patients will be placed in the supine position with the ipsilateral arm abducted. Using the same ultrasound equipment, the PECS II block will be performed first. The needle will be advanced in-plane into the fascial plane between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles, and 15 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected after hydrodissection. Both blocks will be performed through a single skin puncture (single needle entry site); after the first injection, the needle will be redirected under ultrasound guidance to the serratus anterior plane for the subsequent injection. Subsequently, the SAPB will be performed at the level of the 5th or 6th rib, with the needle tip positioned beneath the serratus anterior muscle. After confirming the correct fascial plane, 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected. Block efficacy will be assessed using the pinprick test.

________________________________________ Intraoperative and Postoperative Management After induction with propofol (2-3 mg/kg), fentanyl (1-2 µg/kg), and rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg), anesthesia will be maintained with sevoflurane at 1 MAC and remifentanil infusion (0.05-0.25 µg/kg/min), adjusted according to hemodynamic parameters.

All patients will receive 1 g paracetamol and ondansetron 0.15 mg/kg IV intraoperatively.

Postoperatively, patients will be followed in the PACU for 30 minutes and connected to a morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device. Rescue analgesia and antiemetic protocols will be applied according to NRS and nausea-vomiting scale scores.

________________________________________ PCA Preparation The PCA solution will be prepared with 100 mg morphine diluted in 100 mL saline (1 mg/mL), without basal infusion. The lockout interval will be 15 minutes, and the maximum dose will be 4 mg per hour.

________________________________________ Data Analysis After completion of patient enrollment, collected data will be statistically analyzed and recorded.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 70
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Erdoğan Rahmi Çinçin, Resident Doctor; Phone Number: +903523157700 +90538 862 31 08; Email: erdo.cincin@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Çiğdem Ünal Kantekin, Associate Professor of Medicin; Phone Number: +903523157700 +905054433056; Email: drcgdm@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Kocasinan
    • Kayseri, Kocasinan, Turkey (Türkiye), 38080
      • Recruiting
      • Kasyeri City Hospital
      • Contact: günhan gökahmetoğlu, Professor of Medicine; Phone Number: +903523157700 +905336314488; Email: gunhangok@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 75 years
• ASA physical status I-III
• No history of bleeding or coagulation disorders
• Absence of neuropathy
• Preoperative breast region NRS score < 4

Exclusion Criteria:

• systemic or regional infection
• known allergy to local anesthetics
• Unwillingness to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Erector Spinae Plane Block; Standard preoperative monitoring, including ECG, SpO₂, and non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), will be applied under operating room conditions. Patients will be positioned in the lateral decubitus position with the operative side facing upward. A PHILIPS ClearVue 550 ultrasound device with a high-resolution linear probe (12-5 MHz) will be used. The probe and cable will be covered with a sterile sheath, sterile ultrasound gel will be applied, and skin antisepsis will be achieved using povidone-iodine. The transverse process beneath the erector spinae muscle will be targeted. A 22G atraumatic, nerve stimulator-equipped block needle (B. Braun Stimuplex® Ultra 360, 0.7 × 80 mm) will be advanced in-plane from lateral to medial. After confirmation of correct placement by saline hydrodissection, 35 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected slowly, and longitudinal spread will be observed. Block success will be assessed using the pinprick test.	Procedure: Erector Spinae Plane Block; Investigators will perform the block before the patient receives general anesthesia and investigators will check it with the pinprick test.
Active Comparator: SAPB + PECS II Technique; Standard monitoring will be applied. Patients will be placed in the supine position with the ipsilateral arm abducted. Using the same ultrasound equipment, the PECS II block will be performed first. The needle will be advanced in-plane between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles, and 15 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected after hydrodissection. Both blocks will be performed through a single skin puncture (single needle entry site); without withdrawing the needle from the skin, it will be redirected under ultrasound guidance to access the second target fascial plane. Subsequently, the SAPB will be performed by advancing the probe to the 5th or 6th rib level. The needle will be placed beneath the serratus anterior muscle, and 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected following confirmation of the correct fascial plane. Block efficacy will again be assessed using the pinprick test.	Procedure: SAPB + PECS II Technique; Investigators will perform both blocks with a single injection.; Other Names: group 2

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
the Numerical Rating Scale	The Numerical Rating Scale is a subjective pain assessment tool in which patients rate their pain intensity on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain (the best/most favorable score) and 10 represents the worst pain imaginable (the worst/least favorable score)	24 hours or until the patient is discharged

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Nausea and Vomiting Scale	Nausea and vomiting were assessed using the Nausea and Vomiting Scale, scored between 0 and 4 (0 = no symptoms [best/most favorable score], 1 = mild nausea, 2 = moderate nausea, 3 = frequent vomiting, approximately four episodes, 4 = continuous vomiting [worst/least favorable score]).	24 hours or until the patient is discharged
Apfel Risk Score	The Apfel Risk Score is a simplified risk assessment tool used to predict postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). It consists of four independent risk factors: female gender, non-smoking status, history of PONV or motion sickness, and planned postoperative opioid use. The risk of PONV increases proportionally with the number of risk factors present.	24 hours or until the patient is discharged

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kayseri City Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Çiğdem Ünal Kantekin, Associate Professor of Medicin, Kayseri City Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 26, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain; Regional Anaesthesia; breast surgery; Erector Spinae Plane Block; Serratus Anterior Plane Block; Pectoral Nerve Block Type 2
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Enzymes and Coenzymes; Coenzymes; Sphingolipid Activator Proteins; Saposins
• Other Study ID Numbers: KayseriCH-AR-ERC-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No