Regional anesthesia for breast cancer surgery patients associated with better outcomes

Physicians believe that the use of regional anesthesia is associated with lower levels of inflammation and a better immune response in breast cancer surgery patients.

The period pre-, during, and post-operation plays a crucial role in the survival of patients with cancer. Experimental studies in animals suggest that the type of anesthesia given during and after surgery might impact growth of cancerous tumors.

A study in the November/December issue of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine summarizes the current evidence on the influence of regional anesthesia during breast cancer surgery on cancer recurrence and patient survival. This review of the literature compares the use of a regional anesthesia to a general anesthetic during breast cancer surgery and the rate of long-term survival between the two methods. The researchers found that regional anesthesia was linked to better outcomes; however, more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions.