Open AccessErector spinae plane block may aid weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with multiple rib fractures: Case report of two cases
Author(s) -
Amar Nandhakumar,
Amritha Nair,
V Kiran Bharath,
Sriraam Kalingarayar,
Balaji P Ramaswamy,
D Dhatchinamoorthi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
indian journal of anaesthesia/indian journal of anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.645
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 0976-2817
pISSN - 0019-5049
DOI - 10.4103/ija.ija_599_17
Subject(s) - medicine , mechanical ventilation , atelectasis , anesthesia , pneumonia , ventilation (architecture) , general anaesthesia , surgery , lung , mechanical engineering , engineering
Uncontrolled pain in patients with rib fracture leads to atelectasis and impaired cough which can progress to pneumonia and respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation. Of the various pain modalities, regional anaesthesia (epidural and paravertebral) is better than systemic and oral analgesics. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a new modality in the armamentarium for the management of pain in multiple rib fractures, which is simple to perform and without major complications. We report a case series where ESPB helped in weaning the patients from mechanical ventilation. Further randomised controlled studies are warranted in comparing their efficacy in relation to other regional anaesthetic techniques.