Erector Spinae Block for Pain Relief in a Case of Rib Fracture

Abstract

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 anesthesia (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 safer to perform and better viewed under ultrasound guided. We report a case where ESPB helped provide pain relief to a rib fracture patient.

Keywords

• analgesia
• erector spinae plane block
• rib fracture