Delivery of local anaesthetic via a sternal catheter to reduce the pain caused by sternal fractures: first case series using the new technique

Sternal fractures cause considerable pain, and a proportion of patients require admission for analgesia. Local anaesthetic techniques have been used to reduce the pain from chest wall injuries and may reduce complications from these injuries. The use of a local anaesthetic delivered via a sternal ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emergency medicine journal : EMJ 2006-10, Vol.23 (10), p.791-793
Main Authors: Appelboam, A, McLauchlan, C A J, Murdoch, J, MacIntyre, P A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Traffic
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Analgesics
Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage
Bupivacaine - administration & dosage
Bupivacaine - analogs & derivatives
Catheterization, Peripheral
Catheters
Emergency medical care
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fractures, Bone - complications
Fractures, Bone - rehabilitation
Humans
Injuries
Male
Middle Aged
Narcotics
Pain
Pain - etiology
Pain - prevention & control
Pain Measurement - methods
Patient Satisfaction
Seat belts
Short Report
Sternum - injuries
Ventilation
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Description
Summary:Sternal fractures cause considerable pain, and a proportion of patients require admission for analgesia. Local anaesthetic techniques have been used to reduce the pain from chest wall injuries and may reduce complications from these injuries. The use of a local anaesthetic delivered via a sternal catheter over a fractured sternum has been described in a patient whose pain was inadequately controlled with opiates. This technique was recently offered to patients in the emergency department at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, UK, and the experiences of patients and doctors are reported. Findings from this first case series suggest that the technique seems to be effective, well tolerated and acceptable to patients.
ISSN:1472-0205
1472-0213
DOI:10.1136/emj.2005.032169