• Ajul Shah, Megan Rowlands, Naveen Krishnan, Anup Patel, and Anke Ott-Young.
• New Haven, Conn.; Lebanon, N.H.; and Garden City, N.Y. From the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine; the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Geisel School of Medicine-Dartmouth College; and the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group.
• Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 2015 Nov 1; 136 (5): 584e-91e.

BackgroundTraditionally, narcotics have been used for analgesia after breast surgery. However, these agents have unpleasant side effects. Intercostal nerve blockade is an alternative technique to improve postoperative pain. In this study, the authors investigate outcomes in patients who receive thoracic intercostal nerve blocks for implant-based breast reconstruction.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed. The operative technique for breast reconstruction and administration of nerve blocks is detailed. Demographic factors, length of stay, and complications were recorded. The consumption of morphine, Valium, Zofran, and oxycodone was recorded. Data sets for patients receiving thoracic intercostal nerve blocks were compared against those that did not.ResultsOne hundred thirty-two patients were included. For patients undergoing bilateral reconstruction with nerve blocks, there was a significant reduction in length of stay (1.87 days versus 2.32 days; p = 0.001), consumption of intravenous morphine (5.15 mg versus 12.68 mg; p = 0.041) and Valium (22.24 mg versus 31.13 mg; p = 0.026). For patients undergoing unilateral reconstruction with nerve blocks, there was a significant reduction in consumption of intravenous morphine (2.80 mg versus 8.17 mg; p = 0.007). For bilateral reconstruction with intercostal nerve block, cost savings equaled $2873.14 per patient. For unilateral reconstruction with intercostal nerve block, cost savings equaled $1532.34 per patient.ConclusionThe authors' data demonstrate a reduction in the consumption of pain medication, in the hospital length of stay, and in hospital costs for patients receiving intercostal nerve blocks at the time of pectoralis elevation for implant-based breast reconstruction.Clinical Question/Level Of EvidenceTherapeutic, III.

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