Khan JS, Hodgson N, Choi S, et al. - Considering the prior literature inferring intravenous lidocaine and perioperative pregabalin as possibly efficacious in preventing persistent pain after surgery, researchers undertook a multicenter 2 × 2 factorial, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial of 100 female patients undergoing breast cancer surgery to ascertain feasibility of conducting a larger definitive trial. They administered an intraoperative lidocaine infusion (1.5 mg/kg bolus followed by 2 mg/kg/h) or placebo and perioperative pregabalin (300 mg preoperatively, 75 mg twice daily for 9 days) or placebo to the patients. Persistent neuropathic pain was reported in 53% of patients at 3 months. Although lidocaine and pregabalin displayed no interaction, lidocaine decreased the development of persistent neuropathic pain. Pregabalin led to no lessening of persistent pain and neither pregabalin nor lidocaine influenced acute postoperative pain, opioid consumption, pain interference, or quality of life. This pilot trial thereby supports the feasibility and rendered encouraging data for performing further trials of intraoperative lidocaine infusions during breast cancer surgeries.