To analyze the feasibility and safety of the thoracic nerve (ATN) and intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN)-preserved surgery for patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ breast cancers.

From February 2016 to February 2019, a retrospective analysis was performed in 113 patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ breast cancer who underwent radical mastectomy in our hospital, including 60 patients who preserved ATN and ICBN in preserved group and rest of 53 patients in non-preserved group. Statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS 22.0 software. Measurement data, such as the related indexes of operation and the score of life quality measurement table (FACT-B) were expressed as (±s), and were examined by using independent test. Count data such as complications, recurrence/metastasis were expressed as percentages, and examined by using chi square test. A P value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

The operation time in the preserved group was longer than that in the non-preserved group (P<0.05). The blood loss and harvested lymph nodes in the preserved group were similar to thoses in non-preserved group, with significant difference (P>0.05). The score of each dimension of FACT-B scale of breast cancer patients in the preserved group was higher than that in the non-preserved group 6 months after operation (P<0.05). Compared with the non-preserved group (P<0.05), the incidence of postoperative complications of (26.4% vs. 10.0%) and recurrence / metastasis rate of (30.2% vs. 11.7%) were much better in the preserved group, with significant difference (P<0.05).

Although preservation of ATN and ICBN during radical breast cancer surgery prolongs the operation time, it could improve the quality of life of patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ breast cancer, could reduce postoperative complications and could also reduce the risk of recurrence / metastasis with high feasibility and safety.