Wound Infiltration and Breast Cancer Surgery

Patients are allocated randomly into two arms on the morning of surgery, using random numbers and sealed envelopes. In the treated group infiltration is performed with a ropivacaine 7.5 mg.ml-1 solution and in the control group with an isotonic saline solution. In the two groups patients are operated under and nitrous oxide for maintenance. Dexamethasone 4 mg was given intravenously after anaesthetic induction for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Twenty milliliters of the allocated solution were used at the end of the surgical procedure to infiltrate the subcutaneous and deep layers at the level of the breast and axilla surgical incision.