Abstract：【Objective】To evaluate the value of preserving intercostal brachial nerves in reducing the postoperative discomfort during radical mastectomy. 【Methods】 The clinical data of 90 patients with breast cancer admitted in our hospital from February 2017 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent radical mastectomy. According to the axillary lymph node metastasis, the patients were divided into the observation group (preserving intercostal brachial nerve) and the control group (without intercostal brachial nerve), with 45 cases in each group. The operation condition, comfort, complication rate and sensory disturbance of upper arm were compared between the two groups. 【Results】There was no significant difference in the average operation time, the number of lymph nodes and the amount of intraoperative bleeding between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of complications in the observation group was 13.33% (6/45), lower than 15.56% (7/45) in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2=0.090,P=0.764＞0.05). The incidence of upper arm sensory impairment in the observation group was lower than that in the control group at 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months after operation (P<0.05). The scores of physiology, psychology, social culture and environment in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 Reserving intercostal brachial nerve in radical mastectomy for breast cancer patients can effectively improve the postoperative quality of life, reduce the incidence of postoperative upper arm medial sensory disturbance, and improve postoperative comfort.
2021, Vol. 38 
