| Kolawole IK (2006) [27] | 1. 55 years old patient with recurrent left breast tumour with lung metastasis complicated by pleural effusion and pneumonia 2. 60 years old left breast mass with widespread lung metastasis | Palliative simple mastectomy | Intercostal nerves block at thoracic levels 2 - 7; infraclavicular approach to superficial cervical plexus; subcutaneous infiltration in midline to block contralateral intercostal fibres | 1) pain-free for 5 hours 2) Uneventful postoperative course | - |
| Kairaluoma PM (2004) [28] | 60 breast cancer patients | Breast resection or mastectomy with and without associated axillary dissection | GA and PVB with bupivacaine or saline | Significantly less post-operative opioid medication, less pain after 24 h, less PONV in the bupivacaine group | One patient had bilateral convulsions right after bupivacaine injection |
| Stamatiou G (2004) [29] | 24 years old, 14 weeks of gestation, with left breast tumour | Wide local excision of tumour and lymph node dissection | T1-T7 thoracic paravertebral block and superficial cervical nerve block | Tolerated 65 min of operation under sedation with propofol infusion Total analgesic requirement was 12 mg morphine and 5 g paracetamol for the first 48 hs | - |
| Buckenmaier CC 3rd (2002) [30] | 72 year old patient with HOCM, emphysema on home oxygen therapy | Left partial mastectomy with axillary dissection for infiltrating ductal carcinoma | Left paravertebral nerve blocks at thoracic levels 1 - 6; left superficial cervical plexus block | Pain free and opioid free on day of operation 4 mg of IV morphine on POD1 Discharged pain free subsequently | Hypotension, attribulated to sedation and possibly hypovolemia from fasting; resolved after fluid challenge |
| D'Ercole FJ (1999) [31] | 38 year old, 29 weeks of gestation with a 10 cm left breast mass | Left modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection | Left paravertebral nerve blocks at T1-T6 | Tolerated procedure Oral non-opioid analgesia 18 h after neural blockade Discharged on POD2 | - |
| Atanassoff PG (1994) [32] | RCT involving 48 ASA I and II patients | lumpectomy | 3 groups of patients receiving intercostal nerve blockade of T3-6 unilaterally with either 1.5% or 2% lidocaine or 0.5% bupivacaine. 4th group was control who received GA | Significantly higher postoperative pain scores in control group. Number of women requiring post-operative analgesia, total amount of analgesics given during 24 hs post operatively were significantly lower in RA group | - |