Pain Control in Augmentation Mammaplasty Using Indwelling Catheters in 687 Consecutive Patients: Data Analysis

Postoperative pain following augmentation mammaplasty may be influenced by several factors, but these appear unrelated to implant size, specific operative techniques (blunt versus sharp dissection), or duration of surgery. Pain may involve not only the breasts, but also the sternum, sides of the chest, armpits, and infraclavicular and interscapular areas. The use of indwelling catheters for the instillation of a long-acting anesthetic is rated comparable in efficacy to the systemic narcotics Vicodin and Percocet. Sternal pain can be severe and may require narcotics for effective pain control.