Performing Pectoral Nerve Blocks Intraoperatively During Mastectomy

Christopher L. Kalmar, MD, MBA

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-5787
Year Produced: 2019
Length: 6 min.


Pectoral nerve blocks were developed as a newer ultrasound modality for uncontrolled pain after breast and lateral thoracic wall surgery. Although initially designed as an ultrasound-guided technique, we have found great utility applying these principles in the operating room given exposed anatomy facilitating its use as an intraoperatively administered prophylactic component of our multimodal analgesic therapy during mastectomy. Our modification of this procedure uses a 7 French 10-cm femoral access sheath as an introducer system. For the Pectoral 1 block, we place the introducer system within the plane between the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor. For the Pectoral 2 block, we will place the introducer system within the plane between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior. Suggested volume of injection is 0.2 mL/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine. This total volume is divided between the Pectoral 1 and Pectoral 2 block. Thereafter, we complete the mastectomy procedure closing the surgical incisions in standard fashion. Our experience with over one hundred patients has shown earlier return to work, earlier return to activities of daily living, increased patient satisfaction, as well as decreased postoperative inpatient recovery times. Additionally, our use of femoral access catheters, rather than sharp needles, ensures that our injectate is consistently delivered within fascial planes with relative ease and reliability of avoiding vascular injury. Therefore, we present an accessible, effective, and efficient alternative approach to an analgesic modality that will increase patient comfort and decrease postoperative narcotic requirements after mastectomy.