Intraoperative pectoral nerve blocks during cardiac implantable electronic device procedures

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures can cause significant postoperative pain. Opioid use for postoperative pain is associated with risk of persistent use. The benefits of pectoral nerve (PECs) blocks have been established for other chest wall surgeries, but adoption in electrophysiology has been limited.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative ultrasound-guided PECs blocks performed at the time of CIED procedures by the implanting physician from within the device pocket.

Patients undergoing a pectoral CIED procedure at 7 centers from 2022-2023 were included. Patients underwent intraoperative PECs blocks and subcutaneous local anesthetic vs subcutaneous local anesthetic only at the discretion of the operator. Patients were prospectively evaluated for postoperative pain.

Six hundred ten patients (age 67 ± 15 years old; 63% male) were enrolled. and half (n = 305) underwent PECs block. Patients who underwent PECs block were more likely to have a history of chronic pain (32% vs 11%, P <.001). PECs block was associated with lower pain scores in the 4 hours after the procedure (1.5 ± 2.1 vs 4.5 ± 2.5, P <.001). Pain scores were not different after 24 hours (2.8 ± 1.7 vs 3.1 ± 2.2) and 2 weeks (0.9 ± 1.4 vs 0.9 ± 1.2). PECs block patients were less likely to receive inpatient opioids (10% vs 48%, P <.001) and to be discharged with an opioid prescription (15% vs 59%, P <.001). In multivariable linear regression, PECs block (P <.001), age (P = .002), and absence of chronic pain (P = .009) were associated with lower acute postoperative pain.

Intraoperative PECs block can reduce postoperative pain and opioid use. This procedure can be readily performed by the implanting physician from within the device pocket.