Date of this Version

12-3-2022

Document Type

DNP Project

Abstract

Background: The use of regional anesthesia in combination with general anesthesia for patients undergoing radical mastectomy has shown to be efficacious anesthetic technique at reducing pain postoperatively. Prior to the discovery of the PEC 2 block in 2011, the common regional techniques for radical mastectomy consisted of a thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) or Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB). The PEC 2 block is two separate injections of local anesthetic with the first injection between the pectoralis major muscle and the pectoralis minor muscle, and the second injection between the pectoralis minor and the serratus anterior muscle. Recent studies have aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of the PEC block in comparison to the TPVB and ESPB in Radical Mastectomy Procedures. The research suggests that the PEC block provides superior analgesic efficacy with the radical mastectomy in comparison to the TPVB and ESPB. Methods: A concise search strategy was implemented to identify suitable randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and meta-analysis reviews (MARs) using CINAHL, PUBMED, and FIU’s library database. All RTCs and MARs comparing the analgesic efficacy PEC block and either the TPVB or ESPB in combination with general anesthesia for patients undergoing a radical mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy. Results: Amongst the total number of participants in the educational intervention (n=4), all participants demonstrated improved knowledge on the analgesic efficacy of the PEC block for radical mastectomy procedure. All four participants expressed increased willingness to implement the PEC block for radical mastectomy in combination with general anesthesia.

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