Interfascial Plane Blocks and Clinical Outcomes in Breast Surgery: A Narrative Review

Since their introduction in 2011, interfascial plane blocks have greatly improved regional anaesthesia for breast surgery. This narrative review synthesises evidence from studies addressing the anatomy, development and clinical outcomes of various interfascial blocks, including the pectoral nerve block (PECS), serratus anterior plane (SAPB), erector spinae plane (ESPB) and rhomboid intercostal blocks (RIB). Reported benefits include reductions in opioid consumption by 30%–75%, decreases in chronic pain incidence by 10%–20% and improvements in quality-of-recovery scores. Recent innovations, such as combination blocks and liposomal bupivacaine formulations, have also demonstrated favourable outcomes. The review presents comprehensive evidence supporting the integration of interfascial plane blocks into multimodal analgesia protocols for breast surgery.