Abstract 4145819: Reducing the Burden of the Opioid Epidemic by Adopting a Novel Pain Control Strategy Utilizing Pectoral Nerve Block in Adults Undergoing Transvenous Cardiac Device Implants

Introduction: Despite early mitigation efforts, the opioid pandemic in the United States has persisted and affected many Americans. A public health emergency was declared urging all prescribers to use caution in prescribing opioids. Alternative approaches to postoperative pain management during transvenous cardiac device implants (TCDI) in adults have not been described. Methods: We report a single-center retrospective analysis of 612 consecutive patients that underwent TCDI between January 2021 and January 2024 with ultrasound guided pectoral nerve block (PNB) using liposomal bupivacaine prior to implant for postoperative pain management. Pain scores (0-10) were recorded systematically in the postoperative period, at discharge, and at wound check follow-up. Any need for opioid use in the postoperative period was recorded as well. Results: A total of 612 patients were evaluated, 50% female with a mean age of 71.2 years. All patients received PNB successfully with no device site infection or hematomas. The mean Visualized Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores at 1, 3, and 5 hours after the procedure, at discharge, and at the follow-up visit were 1.93, 1.22, 1.10, 1.05, and 0.13 respectively. During follow-up, no patients required opioids for pain control throughout the entire postoperative period of 14 days. Conclusion: Pectoral nerve block with liposomal bupivacaine can be performed safely preoperatively during TCDI and provides adequate pain control without need for opioid use postoperatively. Further research is needed to assess broad scale implications of this approach to larger patient populations.