Pectoral Fascial Plane and Serratus Anterior Plane Blocks With Bupivacaine v. Liposomal Bupivacaine

The local anesthetic (LA) used for the PECS II or serratus plane blocks will be a 0.5% bupivacaine HCL, not to exceed 2.5mg/kg or up to 150mg. The LA solution can be diluted with preservative free normal saline for smaller patients to allow for appropriate volume of injection. Treatment patients will also be given liposomal bupivacaine (EXPAREL, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Diego, CA) in a dose of 266 mg in 20 ml can be safely combined with bupivacaine HCL at a ratio not exceeding 2:1, but cannot be combined with other local anesthetics due to the concern of rapid release of encapsulated bupivacaine and subsequent local anesthetic toxicity.

The LA used for the blocks will be a 0.5% bupivacaine HCL, not to exceed 2.5mg/kg or up to 150mg. The LA solution can be diluted with preservative free normal saline for smaller patients to allow for appropriate volume of injection. Control patients will have preservative free normal saline mixed with 0.5% bupivacaine HCL and all patients will have a total block solution volume of 60 ml.