Research progress in the clinical application of thoracic paravertebral nerve block in breast cancer surgery

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumor in women. Perioperative anesthesia and analgesia management are closely related to postoperative rehabilitation, and may even be associated with long-term prognosis. The current review summarizes the literature about the effects of thoracic paravertebral nerve block (TPVB) on the perioperative period of breast cancer. TPVB is able to reduce the consumption of opioids and general anesthetics during breast cancer surgery and relieve acute pain after surgery, improve postoperative immunosuppression and tumor microenvironment, and boost anti-tumor potential, which all facilitate rapid rehabilitation. However, the impact of TPVB on the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) requires more researches. Therefore, the application of TPVB in the perioperative period of breast cancer is worthy of promotion. Further investigations are required to explore the impact of TPVB for the long-term prognosis of breast cancer. Key words: Thoracic paravertebral nerve block; Breast cancer; Tumor microenvironment; Long-term prognosis; Chronic postsurgical pain