Before the surgical procedure begins, you will receive an erector spinae plane block. This is a type of nerve block that numbs the area around the surgical site to help manage pain after surgery.

The block will contain ropivacaine, a local numbing medication at a concentration of 0.3%. This medication helps block pain signals from the nerves.

Additionally, one of two adjuvant medications will be added to the ropivacaine: either magnesium sulfate or dexmedetomidine. These medications are added to help the pain relief last longer.

The nerve block will be administered through an injection near the spine in the area of the surgery.

You will undergo the planned mastectomy surgery under general anesthesia. General anesthesia means you will be completely asleep during the procedure.

After the surgery is completed, you will wake up from general anesthesia in the post-anesthesia care unit. This is a recovery area where medical staff monitor patients closely after surgery.

At the time of arrival in this recovery area, your pain level will be measured using a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means no pain and 10 means the worst pain imaginable.

Your heart rate and blood pressure will also be monitored.

Your pain level will be assessed at specific times: when you arrive in the recovery area, and then at 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours, and 24 hours after surgery.

The pain scale ranges from 0, which means no pain, to 10, which means the maximum pain you can imagine.

Your heart rate and blood pressure will continue to be monitored during this period.

Medical staff will observe you for any side effects such as nausea, vomiting, slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute), low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, itching, or any complications related to the nerve block.

If you experience pain that requires additional relief, you may request rescue analgesia. Rescue analgesia refers to extra pain medication given when the initial pain management is not sufficient.

The time between when you wake up from anesthesia and when you first request this additional pain medication will be recorded.

The total amount of rescue pain medication you receive during the first 24 hours after surgery will also be recorded.

At 24 hours after surgery, you will be asked to rate your satisfaction with the pain management you received.

The satisfaction scale ranges from 0 to 100 points, where 0 means you are very dissatisfied with the pain relief provided, and 100 means you are totally satisfied with the pain relief provided.