Article Text
Abstract
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Background and Aims In thoracic trauma with pneumothorax, mechanical ventilation should be avoided whenever possible. Regional anesthesia can be an attractive alternative anesthetic approach in this setting. In clavicular surgery, regional anesthesia requires the block of various nerves that conduct nociceptive information of the skin over the incision area and the clavicula periosteum.
Methods A 66 year-old male patient was scheduled for open reduction and internal fixation of the right clavicle. He had a closed, displaced fracture in the middle third shaft of the right clavicle (car crash). The pre-anesthetic patient assessment revealed a significant medical past: ischemic stroke in 2016 and controlled arterial hypertension. The patient also presented a small right hemopneumothorax and bilateral rib fractures. The anesthesia plan included a regional anesthesia combined with dexmedetomidine perfusion. The regional anesthesia of the surgical field was achieved with a superficial cervical plexus block, combined with a clavipectoral fascial plane block.
Results The surgery lasted 2 hours, during which the patient remained comfortable, with total sensory block. Towards the end of the surgery, acetaminophen and parecoxib were administered. In the post-anesthesia care unit, the patient complained of no pain and no rescue analgesia was needed. During the first 24h post-surgery, the pain remained controlled with conventional intravenous analgesia with acetaminophen and non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Conclusions In our case report, we decided to combine clavipectoral fascial plane block and superficial cervical plexus block. Together, these blocks can provide complete sensory anesthesia for surgical procedures involving the clavicle, providing a safe and reliable alternative to general anesthesia.