Cryoablation for Chest Wall Trauma: A Brief Report

Autor: Paige Farley, Colin T. Buckley, Parker R Mullen, Catherine N. Taylor, Alissa Doll, Yannleei L. Lee, C Caleb Butts, Jon D. Simmons, Christopher M. Kinnard
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: The American surgeon. 88(5)
ISSN: 1555-9823
Popis: Respiratory failure secondary to rib fractures is a major source of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients, particularly in older populations. Management of pain in these patients is complex due to the nature of the injuries. We present 3 patients who underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopic cryoablation of intercostal nerves for pain control after chest trauma. None of the patients developed post-operative complications related to poor respiratory status such as pneumonia or atelectasis. At one-month clinic follow-up, all patients reported no chest pain and were not using opiate analgesics. In patients for whom there is a contraindication to rib fixation in the setting of unstable rib fractures, cryoablation may be a method by which to improve respiratory status and decrease ventilator dependency due to pain. Cryoablation of intercostal nerves may provide a more durable and clinically feasible solution to aid in the healing process of these patients.
Databáze: OpenAIRE