Post-mastectomy Recovery: Comparing Preoperative PECS-II Blocks With Intraoperative Pectoral Blocks

NCT ID: NCT06574022

Last Updated: 2025-11-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-09-25

Study Completion Date

2026-12-01

Brief Summary

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The purpose this research is to compare two different standards of care for pain management and two different standards of care for local numbing medicine for breast cancer patients who will have a total mastectomy.

Detailed Description

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The purpose this research is to compare two different standards of care for pain management and two different standards of care for local numbing medicine for breast cancer patients who will have a total mastectomy.

Standard of care intervention is preoperative PECS-II blocks versus Intraoperative Pectoral Blocks.

The medication used are standard of care and include Bupivacaine and liposomal bupivacaine. Bupivacaine is FDA approved and indicated for the local or regional anesthesia or analgesia for surgery procedures and therapeutic procedures. Liposomal bupivacaine is FDA approved and indicated for adults to produce postsurgical local analgesia and as nerve block to produce postsurgical regional analgesia.

Conditions

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Mastectomy; Lymphedema Breast Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SEQUENTIAL

Study Design Summary:

Stage I: A randomized trial to assess the effectiveness of AT combined with IOB.

Stage II: Based on Stage I results, evaluate two BTs. Enroll 40 patients per group (n1 = 40, n2 = 40) to achieve 80% power at α = 0.05, with one interim analysis after 50% enrollment.

If interim results (n1 = 20, n2 = 20) show a p-value \< 0.025 when comparing pill counts (hypothesizing EX is superior to PB), proceed to Stage II. If not, continue enrollment to full sample size and reanalyze.

If final p-value \< 0.025, EX is considered superior. If not significant, continue with EX. If EX is inferior to PB, conduct subset analysis and revise inclusion/exclusion criteria for Stage II.

In Stage II, test BT efficacy using the superior AT. Enroll 60 patients, randomized 2:1 favoring CPT. Include Stage I patients treated with IOB and superior AT in analysis. Final sample sizes: n1 = 40 or 60, n2 = 40, maintaining ≥80% power.
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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1) Intraoperative Pecs Blocks (IOB) & 30 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine (PB)

Intraoperative direct visualization of the pectoralis nerves and injection using a 21-gauge needle of 30 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine after mastectomy completion and prior to reconstruction, if performed, or wound closure.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

No interventions assigned to this group

2) Intraoperative Pecs Blocks (IOB) & 20 cc of Exparel mixed w/10 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine (EX)

Intraoperative direct visualization of the pectoralis nerves and injection using a 21-gauge needle of 20 cc of Exparel mixed with 10 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine after mastectomy completion and prior to reconstruction, if performed, or wound closure.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

No interventions assigned to this group

3) Intraoperative Pecs II block (IOB) & superior AT (EX or BP)

Intraoperative direct visualization of the pectoralis nerves and injection using a 21-gauge needle with superior anesthetic as determined by stage I, after mastectomy completion and prior to reconstruction, if performed, or wound closure.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Intraoperative Pecs II block (IOB) & superior AT (EX or BP)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Intraoperative direct visualization of the pectoralis nerves and injection using a 21-gauge needle with superior anesthetic as determined by stage I, after mastectomy completion and prior to reconstruction, if performed, or wound closure.

4) Preoperative Pecs II block (POB) & superior AT (EX or BP)

Preoperative Pecs II block to be administered by 1 of 6 acute pain specialized anesthesiologists in same day surgery. Patient will be lightly sedated with midazolam, at the discretion of the anesthesiologist. The pecs II block will be performed under ultrasound guidance using a 21-gauge, 80 mm length needle to administer the superior anesthetic as determined in stage I.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Bupivacain

Intraoperative direct visualization of the pectoralis nerves and injection using a 21-gauge needle of 30 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine after mastectomy completion and prior to reconstruction, if performed, or wound closure.

Intervention Type DRUG

Exparel

Intraoperative direct visualization of the pectoralis nerves and injection using a 21-gauge needle of 20 cc of Exparel mixed with 10 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine after mastectomy completion and prior to reconstruction, if performed, or wound closure.

Intervention Type DRUG

Intraoperative Pecs II block (IOB) & superior AT (EX or BP)

Intraoperative direct visualization of the pectoralis nerves and injection using a 21-gauge needle with superior anesthetic as determined by stage I, after mastectomy completion and prior to reconstruction, if performed, or wound closure.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Preoperative Pecs II block (POB) & superior AT (EX or BP)

Preoperative Pecs II block to be administered by 1 of 6 acute pain specialized anesthesiologists in same day surgery. Patient will be lightly sedated with midazolam, at the discretion of the anesthesiologist. The pecs II block will be performed under ultrasound guidance using a 21-gauge, 80 mm length needle to administer the superior anesthetic as determined in stage I.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients who are 18 years of age or older
* Patients undergoing mastectomy with or without axillary surgery, with or without reconstruction surgery at UCMC for breast cancer or high-risk of breast cancer. Patients with high-risk of breast cancer are those who have atypical/precancerous breast lesion(s), genetic mutation with increased risk of cancer (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2 etc..) and/or a strong family history of breast cancer in the opinion of the investigator.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients undergoing only a partial mastectomy or tissue-based reconstruction.
* Non-English speaking.
* Patients who are pregnant.
* Patients with an allergy to local anesthetics
* Except: patients with allergies only to topical anesthetics may be included.
* Patients with a preoperative acute or chronic pain disorder with an opioid prescription that has been prescribed within 30 days of surgery. Patients who have not filled such a prescription or who state they have not taken the medications prescribed, may be eligible on a case-by-case basis per investigator judgement.
* Patients with a history of opioid use disorder.
* Inability to provide informed consent.
* Patients who otherwise in the opinion of the Investigator are not good candidates for participation (e.g., deemed unreliable for follow-up).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Cincinnati

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Alicia Heelan

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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UCCC Clinical Trials Office

Role: CONTACT

513-584-7698

Alicia Heelan, MD

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Alicia Heelan, MD

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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UCCC-BRE-23-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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