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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
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An Experimental Paradigm for the Prediction of Post-Operative Pain PPOP
Published on: January 27, 2010
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Changes in lymph node surgery in breast cancer and preoperative drug prescription analysis for postoperative pain
Eun Sol Kang1, Yu-Cheol Lim2, Bo-Hyoung Jang3
1Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Plos One
|April 4, 2024
Summary
The study found a decrease in axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and an increase in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer patients. SLNB was associated with lower postoperative opioid prescriptions compared to ALND.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Breast cancer surgery often involves lymph node assessment.
- Pain management post-surgery is crucial for recovery and preventing chronic pain.
- Opioid use for postoperative pain requires careful consideration due to potential side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in lymph node surgery types for breast cancer in South Korea.
- To compare postoperative pain medication prescription patterns between axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB).
- To evaluate the association between lymph node surgery type and opioid prescription rates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized South Korean national health insurance claim data from 2010-2019.
- Included patients diagnosed with breast cancer (ICD-10: C50) undergoing mastectomy or lumpectomy.
- Compared opioid prescription patterns between ALND and SLNB groups using multivariate logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Proportion of ALND decreased, while SLNB increased after 2014.
- Postoperative pain medication and anticancer agent prescriptions were lower in the SLNB group.
- SLNB group showed significantly lower odds of receiving postoperative opioids (OR=0.727, CI=0.546-0.970).
Conclusions:
- Shift towards SLNB in breast cancer surgery is associated with reduced opioid use.
- Optimizing lymph node surgery choice can aid in effective postoperative pain management.
- Multidisciplinary discussion is essential for planning adequate pain treatment and preventing chronic pain.
