Clinical trial · Interventional
Paravertebral Block (PVC) Versus Pectoral Nerve Block (PEC)
Paravertebral Block Versus Pectoral Nerve Block for Analgesia Following Mastectomy
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Why stopped (as posted): Standards of care changed at the institution so that PEC procedures were no longer common or preferred as a method of pain control for breast surgery.
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The purpose of this study is to compare two standard methods of pain control management used at Spectrum Health for patients undergoing breast surgery. The two methods being compared are the paravertebral block (PVB) and the pectoral nerve block (PEC). Postoperative pain control is essential following any major operative procedure. A variety of methods have been used to ensure adequate pain control, each with its own advantages and risks. Increasingly, attention has focused on regional methods of analgesia, which may allow for reduction in systemic narcotic use and their associated complications. Proposed benefits of regional analgesia and a resultant reduction in narcotic use include decreased risk of cancer progression, decreased length of stay, and decreased risk of ileus.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | Malignant Breast Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paravertebral Block | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Pectoral Nerve Block | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Paravertebral Block
- description
- The Paravertebral Block is performed along the spine utilizing ultrasound guided technique (20-30 mL 0.5% Ropivacaine)
- interventionNames
- Drug: Paravertebral Block
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Pectoral Nerve Block
- description
- The Pectoral Nerve Block is performed anteriorly, at the level of the axillary line, also utilizing ultrasound guided technique (20-30 mL 0.5% Ropivacaine)
- interventionNames
- Drug: Pectoral Nerve Block
Primary outcomes (3)
- measure
- Intraoperative Narcotic Use
- timeFrame
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- Female
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Female patients ≥ 18 years of age * Total mastectomy or partial mastectomy with or without reconstruction OR planned lumpectomy. * Patient determined by their surgeon as medically able to receive a regional block for post-operative analgesia * Patient agrees to participate in the study and signs informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Neoadjuvant radiation therapy * Stage IV cancer * Previous breast surgery (excluding percutaneous biopsies of all types) * History of either PVB or PEC procedures * Planned general anesthesia use during surgery * Allergies to ropivacaine, midazolam, fentanyl, or propofol * Pregnant women * Prisoners * Adults unable to consent * Non-English-speaking patients
References
Publications (0)
Data not yet available