Case Report of Serratus Plane Catheter for Pain Management in a Patient With Multiple Rib Fractures and an Inferior Scapular Fracture. Issue 6 (15th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Peter; Weyker, Paul D.; Webb, Christopher A. J.
• Is Part Of: A & A case reports. Volume 8:Issue 6(2017:Mar. 15)
• Publication Date: 2017-03-15
• Subjects: Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; Anesthesia -- Periodicals; Anesthesiology; Analgesia; Anesthesiology; Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000000431
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-7237

Abstract

Abstract : We placed a superficial serratus anterior plane catheter in an elderly woman with dementia and elevated clotting times who presented with multiple rib fractures after a mechanical fall. She was not a surgical candidate, and treatment consisted of conservative management with physical therapy and pain control. She was not a candidate for a patient-controlled analgesia regimen because of her dementia. Given her elevated international normalized ratio, thoracic epidural and paravertebral analgesia was also contraindicated. We placed an ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane catheter, allowing titratable continuous infusion in a trauma patient, resulting in excellent analgesia without adverse effects.