Opioid-Free Approach To Breast Cancer Surgery Explored

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Sarah Saxena
Université Libre de Bruxelles

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Saxena: Opioids are well known analgesics, but like every drug, they do not come without side-effects. Recently, certain studies have been published about an opioid-free approach in bariatric patients. An opioid free approach is possible combining ketamine, lidocaine and clonidine.

We studied this type of approach in breast cancer patients and looked at several factors such as patient comfort pain quality after an opioid free approach vs after an opioid approach. The study showed patients requiring less analgesics after an opioid free approach.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Dr. Saxena: This study shows that this type of approach is possible in breast cancer patients and that (even though we remain perplexed) patients seem to be requiring less analgesics after this type of approach.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Saxena:  The exact reason behind this result needs to be investigated more thoroughly. More studies need to be done to investigate the long term effect of this approach. Recently opioids have been linked to cancer recurrence. This possible link needs to be investigated as well.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Dr. Saxena: We hope that this type of approach and its possible benefits will be investigated by other groups as well.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:
Euroanaesthesia poster presentation:

COMPARING ANALGESIC REQUIREMENTS AFTER A NON-OPIATE ANESTHESIA AND AN OPIATE ANESTHESIA IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLINDED, CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: Saxena, S., Hontoir S., Gatto P., Sosnowski M. Institute: Jules Bordet Institute, Dept. of Anaesthesiology, Brussels, Belgium

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Last Updated on June 4, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD