Pectoral Nerves Block to Relieve Post-sternotomy Pain After Cardiac Surgery
Pectoral Nerves Block to Relieve Post-sternotomy Pain After Cardiac Surgery
The primary objective of this study is to determine if the addition of PECS2 block provides superior post-operative analgesia for cardiac surgery patients after midline sternotomy compared to only standard-of-care post-operative pain medication.
The current study is a prospective, double-blind study investigating the use of pectoral nerves (PECS) block 2 to alleviate post-operative pain in cardiac surgery patients. The investigators anticipate enrolling a total of 220 participants in one of two groups, an interventional PECS block group and a control group not receiving the block. The intervention will occur in the operating room after the completion of the cardiac procedure and prior to the transfer of the participants to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU). Both groups will receive the standard-of-care (SOC) pain regimen; the intervention with receive the PECS block in addition to SOC pain regimen. The procedure takes approximately five to ten minutes and will be conducted by the attending cardiac anesthesiologist. Pain will then be monitored hourly in the post-operative period in the CTICU. Additional measures will be investigated that are regularly logged in the electronic medical record.
Inclusion Criteria:
Obtaining one or more of the following elective surgical procedures at NYU Winthrop Hospital with midline sternotomy:
Willingness and ability to participate in the study procedures
Sufficiently hemodynamically stable to give consent
Exclusion Criteria:
An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: