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Regional Anesthesia for Breast Surgery: Techniques and Benefits

  • Regional Anesthesia (CJL McCartney, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Breast surgery is an exceedingly common procedure and associated with an increased incidence of acute and chronic pain. Regional anesthesia techniques may improve postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing breast surgery. While much data have supported the efficacy of paravertebral blocks, they are not without risks. More recently, pectoral blocks have shown promise for this population, whereas wound infiltration has demonstrated mixed results. In this review, regional anesthesia techniques, the associated anatomy and the evidence for their utility are reviewed. Additionally, the advantages of regional anesthesia beyond postoperative pain control are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 167 Ashley Avenue Suite 301, MSC 912, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Eric D. Bolin, N. Robert Harvey & Sylvia H. Wilson

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  1. Eric D. Bolin
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  2. N. Robert Harvey
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  3. Sylvia H. Wilson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sylvia H. Wilson.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Regional Anesthesia.

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Bolin, E.D., Harvey, N.R. & Wilson, S.H. Regional Anesthesia for Breast Surgery: Techniques and Benefits. Curr Anesthesiol Rep 5, 217–224 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-015-0102-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-015-0102-0

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