Which nerve block best cuts opioid use after mastectomy?

NCT ID NCT04016376

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested three different nerve block methods to manage pain after a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Over 1,500 women received either a paravertebral block, a serratus+PECS-1 block, or a combination. The goal was to see which approach reduces the need for opioid painkillers after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: nerve blocks (local anesthesia)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could identify the best nerve block technique to reduce pain and opioid use after mastectomy, improving patient recovery.
What could go wrong: This is a completed Phase 4 study, so results are available. However, the best block may still leave some patients needing opioids, and individual pain responses vary.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm female breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BREAST CANCER BREAST CANCER FEMALE

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States

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