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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03599635

Pec Infiltration With Liposomal Bupivacaine for Breast Surgery

The purpose of this study is to compare pain control after breast surgery using either liposomal bupivacaine or bupivacaine when infiltrated during an ultrasound guided pectoralis 1 and 2 block. Both medications, liposomal bupivacaine and bupivacaine, are standard of care in these types of surgeries.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

M Health Ambulatory Surgery Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States

About this study

For the Pec infiltration, the patient will be in the supine position. The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscle layers will be identified via ultrasound. Using sterile technique, a nerve block needle will be inserted and advanced under ultrasound guidance until it is below the fascial covering of the pec minor muscle layer. Gentle aspiration for air or blood will be performed in 5cc incremental doses. Then injection of 10 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% with epinephrine 1:200,000 and 10mL of a mixture of liposomal bupivacaine and saline (5 mL liposomal bupivacaine and 5 mL saline) for a total injection for pec 1 block of 20 mL. For each 5cc of local anesthetic injected, aspiration will be performed. Upon completion of the injection the needle will be removed. The investigators will then use the ultrasound probe to identify the second rib on anterolateral chest wall and move the probe to the 4th rib. Here the investigators will identify the pec minor and serratus anterior muscles. They will advance their needle under ultrasound-guidance beneath pec minor and above serratus anterior. Here an injection 10 mL 0.25% bupivacaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 followed by 20 mL mixture of 15 mL liposomal bupivacaine and 5 mL saline for a total volume of 30ml for Pec 2. block will occur.

Upon completion of the injection, the needle will then be removed and the patient will be monitored in the preoperative area until he/she is brought into the operating room for their procedure.

If deemed necessary for coverage the surgeon will be allowed to inject additional local anesthetic up to a maximum of 40 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. This will be noted in the chart.

For the surgeon infiltration, the patient will be brought directly to the operating room where intraoperative anesthetic with an opioid-sparing MAC technique will be provided as described below. Just prior to the skin incision, 0.25% bupivacaine will be used to infiltrate the dermis and subcutaneous space in the proposed incision. Throughout the procedure, additional incisional bupivacaine infiltration into the surrounding tissues will be performed as needed for local anesthesia. A total of up to 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be divided equally for the two sides of the incision. An additional 5 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be infiltrated into the pectoralis major muscle at the deep margin of resection. Accidental intravascular injection is minimized by continuous needle movement and frequent aspiration.

The following vital signs will be monitored throughout the procedure: Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respirations, and patient's state of consciousness. The investigators will monitor the patient until they are brought to the operating room for surgery.

All patients will receive multimodal analgesia in the preoperative area. They will receive 975 mg of oral acetaminophen and 300 mg of gabapentin orally prior to surgery. 30 mg of ketorolac will be given just prior to closure in the operating room.

The intraoperative anesthetic will be an opioid-sparing MAC anesthetic. Patients will receive IV midazolam 0-2 mg followed by 40-100mg of IV lidocaine, and followed by a propofol infusion with 2 mg/ml of ketamine. Opioids will be avoided unless HR or BP increases by 20 % above baseline. Then only short acting opioids (fentanyl) will be given. If patients are unable to tolerate procedure under MAC they would be converted to a general anesthetic with an laryngeal mask airway (LMA).

In the recovery room if the patient experiences pain greater than 5/10 they will receive either IV or oral pain medications. If pain score is less than 5 patients will get non opioid medications unless the patient desires an opioid medication.

When the operation is complete the patient will either be brought to the PACU or Phase II. Each day a member of the research team will call and evaluate the patient for signs of complications and ask the patient their minimum and maximum pain score (scores will be evaluated at 1 hr, 2 hr, 6hrs, 24hrs, 48hrs, 72hrs). They will record daily opioid use, any modality related complications, how many phone calls were made regarding pain control and modality related complications. At time period 72 hours a Quality of recovery survey (see appendix) and OBAS (see appendix) survey will be presented to patient.

At 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months patients will be called to answer a survey with regards to chronic pain.

Patients will be instructed to take acetaminophen 1000 mg every 8 hours while at home and alternate that every four hours with ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours. They will be given a prescription of opioid pain medications either oxycodone or hydrocodone and will be instructed to take as needed for pain.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • • All patients undergoing partial mastectomy procedures.
  • Ages 18-75

Exclusion criteria

  • • Patient on chronic anticoagulation
  • Pregnant women
  • Non-english speaking patients
  • Any individuals who are unable to give informed consent
  • Any individual with diminished capacity to give informed consent
  • Allergy to local anesthetics
  • Patients who remain intubated overnight after surgery or who are unable to provide information regarding their pain immediately postoperatively
  • Daily use of opioid for more than three weeks
  • Significant liver disease, defined as liver enzymes greater than 3x the upper limit of normal
  • Lack of patient cooperation including those patients who refuse a MAC anesthetic
  • Contraindication to regional anesthesia
  • Infection at injection site
  • Inability to guarantee sterile equipment or sterile conditions for the block
  • Patient refusal
  • Severe Coagulopathy or bleeding disorder

Treatment and study plan

Liposomal bupivacaine

Drug

Experimental

Bupivacaine

Drug

Active Comparator

Primary outcomes

  1. Total Opioid Use

    Time frame: time from end of surgery through 72 hours after surgery

    Description: To determine if liposomal bupivacaine Pec infiltration provides decreased peri-operative opioid usage when compared to incisional bupivacaine infiltration.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Maximal Pain Scores - 1 Hour

    Time frame: 1 hour

    total additive maximal patient pain scores measured using a numerical rating scale pain score 0-10 at time points 1 hour, 2, hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Higher pain score is worse pain score.

  2. Maximal Pain Scores - 2 Hours

    Time frame: 2 hours

    total additive maximal patient pain scores measured using a numerical rating scale pain score 0-10 at time points 1 hour, 2, hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Higher pain score is worse pain score.

  3. Maximal Pain Scores - 6 Hours

    Time frame: 6 hours

    total additive maximal patient pain scores measured using a numerical rating scale pain score 0-10 at time points 1 hour, 2, hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Higher pain score is worse pain score.

  4. Maximal Pain Scores - 24 Hours

    Time frame: 24 hours

    total additive maximal patient pain scores measured using a numerical rating scale pain score 0-10 at time points 1 hour, 2, hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Higher pain score is worse pain score.

  5. Maximal Pain Scores - 48 Hours

    Time frame: 48 hours

    total additive maximal patient pain scores measured using a numerical rating scale pain score 0-10 at time points 1 hour, 2, hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Higher pain score is worse pain score.

  6. Maximal Pain Scores - 72 Hours

    Time frame: 72 hours

    total additive maximal patient pain scores measured using a numerical rating scale pain score 0-10 at time points 1 hour, 2, hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Higher pain score is worse pain score.

  7. Improved Quality of Recovery Score

    Time frame: 1 year

    To determine if a pectoralis 1 and 2 block with liposomal bupivacaine improves quality of recovery score post-operatively when compared to incisional bupivacaine infiltration. The scale used was QR15 with 0 to 150 scale; 0 is non of the time/poor, 150 all of the time/excellent.

  8. Effect in Patients With Breast Surgery

    Time frame: 1 year

    To observe the effect on chronic postoperative pain in patients who have breast surgery, measured with the Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score (OBAS), where 0 is minimal pain and 4 is maximum pain.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Minnesota

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Ultrasound-guided Pec Infiltration With Liposomal Bupivacaine for Breast Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jul 26, 2018
Registry last updated
Dec 11, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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