Pectoral Block in Breast Reduction for Pain Control

Recruiting now · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Macromastia (Symptomatic)

In brief

A reduction mammoplasty is a commonly performed procedure for patients with symptomatic macromastia. The procedure involves removing breast parenchyma for an overall reduction in breast size and to alleviate patient symptoms, such as back/neck pain, rashes in the inframammary fold, and bra strap indentation. It is well documented in the literature that this procedure has a statistically significant reduction in patient symptoms. Postoperatively, it has been within the norm to prescribe narcotics in order to alleviate post-procedural pain. Recently, however, the research realm has advocated a non-narcotic multimodal pain control (MMPC) approach to minimize narcotic usage. Narcotic use is associated with increased costs in the healthcare system due to reported heightened pain scores for extended duration, constipation, nausea, vomiting, opiate dependence among other factors associated with increased morbidity. The goal of this study is to determine if PECs II (pectoral block type II) block alone is non-inferior to the standard multimodal pain control with narcotics for postoperative pain reduction in breast reduction.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07527039
Run by: Carilion Clinic
People needed: 80
Starts: 2026-04-01
Expected to finish: 2028-05-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-04-14

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Undergoing breast reduction surgery
Women older than age 18 and under age 75
Stable breast size for at least 1 year
Member has persistent symptoms in at least two of the anatomical body areas below, directly attributed to macromastia and affecting daily activities for at least 1 year:
Headaches; Pain in neck; Pain in shoulders; Pain in upper back; Painful kyphosis documented by X-rays; Pain/discomfort/ulceration from bra straps cutting into shoulders; Skin breakdown (severe soft tissue infection, tissue necrosis, ulceration hemorrhage) from overlying breast tissue; Upper extremity parasthesia
Patient has evidence of severe breast hypertrophy that is documented by frontal and side profile photographs
Pain symptoms persist as documented by the physician despite at least a 3-month trial of therapeutic measures such as:
Analgesic/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) interventions and/or muscle relaxants Dermatologic therapy of ulcers, necrosis and refractory infection Physical therapy/exercises/posturing maneuvers Supportive devices (e.g., proper bra support, wide bra straps) Chiropractic care or osteopathic manipulative treatment Medically supervised weight loss program Orthopedic or spine surgeon evaluation of spinal pain
Breast Reduction is likely to cause a reduction in patient symptoms
Women 50 years of age or older are required to have a mammogram that was negative for cancer performed within the two years prior to the date of the planned reduction mammoplasty
Greater than 40 kg in weight

You may not qualify if…

History of chronic pain controlled with prescribed narcotics
English as non-primary language
No access to email or internet
Positive pre-surgery pregnancy test
Women not of ages 18-75
Less than 40 kg in weight

Where it is running

Carilion Clinic — Roanoke, Virginia, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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