Comparison of Pre-op and Post-op Pectoralis Nerve Block

The current standard of care at the University of Iowa is to receive a pectoralis nerve block
(PEC I/II) prior to surgery for mastectomy and reconstruction cases. The investigators will
compare whether patients will have better pain control if they were to receive (PEC I/II
block) before surgery or after the mastectomy. Patients undergoing mastectomies at the
University of Iowa Hospitals clinics receive general anesthesia and a regional block for pain
control. The most commonly employed regional anesthetic technique is a PECS I/II block to
anesthetize the pectoral, intercostobrachial, third to sixth intercostal and long thoracic
nerves. The PECS I/II blocks are pectoralis field blocks where local anesthetic medication is
injected under ultrasound guidance between the tissue planes of pectoralis major and minor
muscles (PECS I) and in the plane of the serratus anterior muscle at the level of the third
rib (PECS II). The investigators will randomize patients into two groups and blind the
patient and the research assistant collecting the data. Group I will have the block performed
after induction of general anesthesia and prior to surgical incision by the anesthesiologist.
Group II will have the block administered by the surgeon after mastectomy is performed and
before reconstruction. On the day of surgery, the investigators will have patients fill out
forms to measure pain catastrophizing and depression and anxiety. The investigators would
like to measure if there is any difference in postoperative pain scores (visual analogue
scale)-immediately post surgery in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and then on the
admission unit every 4 hours for the first twenty four hours or on discharge (whichever
time-point occurs sooner) and will collect the average pain scale of the day on post-op day
(POD) 2,3,5 and 7 via patient communication electronic message in RedCap. The investigators
will also measure intraoperative and post-operative narcotic use (converted to morphine
equivalents), post-operative nausea and vomiting, length of (PACU) stay. In addition the
investigators will also collect pain scores and pain catastrophic scale on POD 14 after
surgery at their clinic visits to the surgeon. Other data collected will include time taken
to perform block, post-operative infection rate and post-operative flap necrosis rate.

Inclusion Criteria:

- At least 18 years of age

- Female

- Bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer

- Undergoing breast reconstruction

- Must weigh at least 50 kg

Exclusion Criteria:

- More than 80 years of age

- Male

- Prisoners

- Patients who can't provide their own consent

- Lumpectomy only patients

- Patients having prophylactic mastectomies

- Patient must weigh at least 50 kg

- Allergies to local anesthetics

- Patient refusal

- Patients with a history of bleeding disorders

- Non-English speaking patients