Improving Thoracic Trauma Care: Locoregional Analgesia in the Intensive Care Unit

Pain management in thoracic trauma patients has, historically, relied heavily on systemic analgesic approaches, mostly opioids, associated with numerous adverse effects. Locoregional anesthesia/analgesia (LRAA), presents a promising alternative by specifically targeting pain pathways at the injury site. This study investigates the impact of LRAA on pain management and clinical outcomes in thoracic trauma patients within an ICU setting. It aims to assess the effectiveness of LRAA in reducing pain and its potential to influence ICU-related outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 43 LRAA procedures performed on 33 patients. Fourteen procedures were excluded as they were unrelated to thoracic trauma. The median age of the patients was 65 years, with a notable male predominance (84%). LRAA techniques included thoracic epidural catheters, erector spinae blocks, and serratus plane blocks. Our study found that 50% of patients who received LRAA before invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) avoided intubation (p