Regional Anesthesia for the Practicing General Surgeon: Pectoral Nerve Blocks
This set of two videos will focus on the safe delivery of peripheral pectoral nerve blocks to reduce pain following breast surgery. The skills video will identify the relevant anatomy for performing the pectoral nerve block as well as discuss regional blocks and maximizing their anesthetic effects in the targeted area.
The panel discussion video will compare and contrast delivery of the pectoral nerve block with and without ultrasound, the learning curve associated with the practice of this technique, with significant attention on postoperative patient pain management.
Also included in the content is a downloadable, faculty-validated skills checklist participants can use when practicing the technique in a live, hands-on course and for use as a reminder of the steps involved in the delivery of a pectoral nerve block.
Target Audience
This activity is intended for surgeons and members of the surgical team (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative).
Learning Objectives
- Describe how pectoral nerve blocks and local anesthetics can be used as part of a multimodal, opioid-sparing surgical pain control program
- Recognize critical anatomical structures and ensure patient safety while performing peripheral, pectoral nerve blocks using laparoscopic and infiltrative techniques.
- Summarize dosing, contraindications, and other patient safety and screening requirements associated with the delivery of local anesthetics utilized for pectoral nerve blocks.
- Compare and contrast techniques and situations when administering pectoral nerve blocks.
Contact
- If you have any questions about the course, please contact please contact Kathleen Maruyama at kmaruyama@facs.org
- For any technical questions, please contact us at learning@facs.org.
Disclosure Information
In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all financial relationships with any commercial interest (termed by the ACCME as “ineligible companies”, defined below) held in the last 24 months (see below for definitions). Please note that first authors were required to collect and submit disclosure information on behalf all other authors/contributors, if applicable.
Ineligible company
The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.
Financial Relationships
Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
Conflict of Interest
Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship.
The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.
Faculty Disclosures
Course Chair:
Stefan Scholz, MD, PhD, FACS, FAAP - Nothing to disclose
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Scott R Karlan, MD, FACS - Nothing to disclose
Saul and Joyce Brandman Breast Center
Cedars Sinai
Stephanie Valente, DO, FACS - Nothing to disclose
Director, Western Region Breast and Fairview Hospital Breast Programs,
Director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
Moll Cancer Center at Fairview Hospital
Continuing Medical Education Credit Information
Accreditation
The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
The American College of Surgeons designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Course Completion
To receive the CME Certificate for credits earned, participants will need to complete the following:
- Complete pre and posttest
- Review all online course materials
- Complete post-course evaluations
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.00 Certificate of Completion
To Enroll/Register
The following is the fee for the course: $25.00.
You will be asked to register for the course and provide information to complete the registration process.
Once you have completed the registration process, an email will be sent to you with the confirmation and course login information.
To Start Course
Once you have completed the registration process, you will see the "Take Course" button above, click on the button to start/access the educational activity.