Principal investigator determination

The novel introduction of various chest wall blocks such as the Pecs I and II/modified Pecs blocks as well as the Serratus Anterior Plane Block have extended the application of perioperative regional anesthesia to provide analgesia for breast surgery. However, to our knowledge, there are no large studies that truly delineate the optimal injection site for the Serratus Anterior Plane Block.

Analgesia for reconstructive breast surgery can be a challenging undertaking; these women have often been through painful mastectomy procedures coupled with the mental and physical discomfort of chemotherapy and its attendant side effects. Additionally, the surgery itself can provoke significant pain; often requiring extensive dissection of soft tissue and muscle to provide flap coverage as well the real discomfort of tissue expansion. The literature has described 2 possible injection sites for the Serratus Anterior Block, however, no study has defined optimal location based on analgesia and duration. Patients will be randomized to receive a "deep" Serratus Anterior Block (DSAB) where local anesthetic is deposited deep to the serratus or a "superficial" Serratus Anterior Block (SSAB) where the local anesthetic is placed between serratus and latissimus dorsi. The investigator will then evaluate the difference based on pain scores, opiate consumption, length of hospital stay, as well as nausea and vomiting.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing reconstructive breast surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with allergies to the local anesthetic
• Patients who do no consent to regional anesthesia
• Patients in which serratus block would be contraindicated
• Patients whose anatomy preclude placement of the block