Post-Mastectomy Analgesia Using Exparel (Liposomal) Versus Standard Bupivacaine or Placebo

Overview

This is a randomized, single-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Patients will be randomized to one of three arms: (1) injection of liposomal bupivacaine at the end of the operation, (2) injection of standard bupivacaine at the end of the operation, or (3) no injection of local anesthetic. All patients will be able to receive IV and oral narcotic medications in the postoperative period on an as-needed basis. If a patient is randomized to the LB arm, at the appropriate time, under a surgeon's direction, 266 mg of (liposomal bupivacaine) LB in 20 cc of solution was expanded with various amounts of normal saline to cover the appropriate surgical field. Our routine expansion for a bilateral mastectomy is to add 80 mL of saline to 20 mL (266 mg) of LB. In our practice,we use an 18-gauge needle to inject the medication in a "field-effect" encompassing all 4 quadrants of the chest muscles (pectoralis and serratus) followed by injecting around the edges of the skin incision and drain site. This occurs prior to dissection of the pectoralis muscle and implant or tissue expander placement. Patients randomized to the SB arm will receive weight-based dosing of bupivacaine, administered in the same manner as the LB arm. Patients who are in the placebo arm will have a similar volume of saline injected into the operative site. Postoperatively, all patients will be kept in the hospital for at least one night. Total length of stay will be documented. They will all have the option of receiving IV morphine injections as well as oral acetaminophen-hydrocodone as needed for additional pain control. The administration of these additional medications will be recorded for each patient. On postoperative day 1, each patient will be administered the American Pain Society Outcome Questionnaire while in the hospital. After discharge from the hospital, we will call the patient on postoperative day 2, 3, 5 and 7 to assess pain and satisfaction scores, using the same questions each time. For any patients staying in the hospital longer than 1 day, the questionnaire will be administered in the hospital on the same postoperative days. Subject participation only lasts for these 7 days of follow up.