Regional Blockade of the Sternum With Liposomal Bupivacaine Prior to Incision Decreases Opioid Use in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery (Sternal Block)
The purpose of this study is to find out what effects (good and bad) that the study medicine called liposomal bupivacaine has on subjects that are undergoing a sternotomy. Liposomal bupivacaine solution, is a drug that the doctor will inject before they make the cut through patient's breastbone (sternotomy). Normally pain medicine like this is given right before the surgeon closes up the patient's breastbone, at the end of the surgery. For this study, they want to see if giving the medicine before they make the cut into the patient's breastbone helps their pain. They also want to find out if patients feel less pain after surgery with the study drug than they do with saline and possibly decrease the need for pain medicine. Subjects will be in the study for about 72 hours or until they are discharged from the hospital.
• Age greater than 18 years
• Undergoing a surgical procedure through mini- or full sternotomy.