title: Extrapleural bupivacaine for amelioration of multiple rib fracture pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pain associated with multiple rib fractures can be surprisingly variable. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of an indwelling, percutaneously placed intercostal catheter in relieving the pain associated with multiple rib fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective nonrandomized study setting: Surgical intensive care unit in a level 1 trauma center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen blunt chest trauma patients with a minimum of three rib fractures who had failed an intravenous patient controlled analgesia protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Insertion of an epidural catheter within the intercostal space. Bupivacaine 0.25% with epinephrine was injected in a volume of 20 mL. Subsequent doses were limited to a total of 400 mg per 24 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severity of injury was estimated by using the Injury Severity Score. For each patient a preinjection visual analogue scale (VAS) and incentive spirometry (IS) lung volume were determined. Fifteen minutes following injection of 0.25% bupivacaine with epinephrine the VAS and IS were repeated. The Injury Severity Score ranged from 9 to 32 (mean 19.0 +/- 1.6). Overall, mean VAS pain scores improved significantly following the initial bolus of bupivacaine (before VAS = 7.5 +/- 0.6, after VAS = 3.5 +/- 0.5, p < 0.05) and this was associated with significant increase in IS lung volumes (before IS = 0.77 +/- 0.09, after IS = 1.3 +/- 0.13, p < 0.05). No patient experienced either insertion-related or drug administration complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm that an indwelling intercostal catheter provides a continuous nerve block resulting in a simple, safe procedure that can ameliorate the pain and splinting associated with multiple rib fractures. Although we experienced no complications, additional investigation is clearly needed.
authors.affiliation: Denver General Hospital, Colorado 80204-4507, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Haenel
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauaia
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Burch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D002045:Bupivacaine