Dialing Down Pain, Dialing Up Safety: New Frontiers in Breast Surgery Care Thursday, October 9 Thu, Oct 9 3:30-4:30 p.m. CDT

Optimizing intraoperative safety and postoperative outcomes is essential in modern breast surgery. This session will address surgical safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies, with an emphasis on leveraging data and outcome metrics to guide clinical decision-making. Participants will explore the use of regional anesthesia techniques—including Pecs and TAP blocks—to improve pain control and reduce reliance on opioids. The session will also examine the clinical benefits and aesthetic impact of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and review enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols tailored to breast surgery. Multimodal approaches to pain management and strategies that promote early recovery will be highlighted.

Upon completion of this learning activity, participants should be able to:

1. Describe intraoperative safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies specific to breast surgery, and the role of surgical data in improving outcomes.
2. Explain the techniques and applications of regional anesthesia, including Pecs and TAP blocks, for enhancing postoperative analgesia in breast procedures.
3. Assess the effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in optimizing healing, reducing complications, and improving aesthetic results in breast surgery.
4. Outline components of breast surgery–specific ERAS protocols, including opioid-sparing strategies, early mobilization, and alternative anesthetic modalities.
5. Implement multimodal pain management strategies to support recovery and minimize postoperative morbidity.