Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Pectoral Block in Breast Reduction for Pain Control
Sponsor: Carilion Clinic
Summary
A reduction mammoplasty is a commonly performed procedure for patients with symptomatic macromastia. The procedure involves removing breast parenchyma for an overall reduction in breast size and to alleviate patient symptoms, such as back/neck pain, rashes in the inframammary fold, and bra strap indentation. It is well documented in the literature that this procedure has a statistically significant reduction in patient symptoms. Postoperatively, it has been within the norm to prescribe narcotics in order to alleviate post-procedural pain. Recently, however, the research realm has advocated a non-narcotic multimodal pain control (MMPC) approach to minimize narcotic usage. Narcotic use is associated with increased costs in the healthcare system due to reported heightened pain scores for extended duration, constipation, nausea, vomiting, opiate dependence among other factors associated with increased morbidity. The goal of this study is to determine if PECs II (pectoral block type II) block alone is non-inferior to the standard multimodal pain control with narcotics for postoperative pain reduction in breast reduction.
Official title: Intraoperative Pectoral Block in Breast Reductions: Reduction in Pain Scores & Elimination of Narcotic Use
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - 75 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
80
Start Date
2026-04-01
Completion Date
2028-05
Last Updated
2026-04-14
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Pectoral II Nerve Block
The Pectoral II block is a modified Pectoral I block and can be achieved using a single needle stick. Local anesthetic placement is between the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor as for a Pecs I block and then between pectoralis minor and serratus anterior. The second portion of the procedure will block the anterior cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves 3 to 6, the intercostobrachial nerves, and the long thoracic nerve.
Post Operative Pain Relievers
Participants will receive the same postoperative instructions in both groups. Participants will be instructed to alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen every 6 hours. Participants will also receive a paper prescription for a narcotic pain medication if pain is not adequately controlled by the over-the-counter products
Locations (1)
Carilion Clinic
Roanoke, Virginia, United States