Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Mastectomies remain a key component of the treatment of non-metastatic breast cancer, and strategies to treat acute postoperative pain, a complication affecting nearly all patients undergoing surgery, continues to be an important clinical challenge. This study aimed to determine the impact of intraoperative methadone administration compared to conventional short-acting opioids on pain-related perioperative outcomes in women undergoing a mastectomy. ⋯ Our study suggests that the unique pharmacological properties of methadone, including a short onset of action when given intravenously, long-acting pharmacokinetics, and multimodal effects, are associated with better acute pain management after a total mastectomy.