For women having breast cancer surgery, ultrasound-guided paravertebral block (PVB) added to standard general anesthesia may help guard against the development of postoperative chronic neuropathic pain, according to a study from Canada. "Six months after breast cancer surgery, we found that women who received paravertebral blocks immediately before their mastectomies had more than 50% lower risk of developing chronic pain compared to those who received standard care," Dr. Faraj Abdallah, an anesthesiologist at St. Michael's Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, said in a statement.
Dr. Abdallah and colleagues also found that a pain-assessment test called the DN-4 (Douleur Neuropathique en 4 questions) can identify chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) in women who've had breast cancer surgery. The DN-4 combines interview questions with assessments of the patient's…
