Bilateral Subpectoral Interfascial Plane Catheters for Analgesia for Sternal Fractures: A Case Report.

OBJECTIVES: Sternal fractures occur after deceleration injuries such as falls and road traffic accidents. Recovery from isolated fractures is excellent, but mortality increases dramatically with concurrent chest injuries such as rib fractures and soft tissue injuries. Short-term complications include chest pain, which prevents patients from taking deep breaths and coughing, thereby predisposing them to chest infections. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 73-year-old woman with sternal fracture in whom enteral analgesia was inadequate and who was intolerant to intravenous opiates. CONCLUSIONS: The patient was successfully treated with a continuous infusion of local anesthetic into the subpectoral interfascial plane. We also discuss the use and potential benefits of the subpectoral interfascial plane block in the treatment of pain from sternal fractures.

Accidental fracture of the tip of the Coopdech bronchial blocker during insertion for one lung ventilation.

PURPOSE: The distal tip of a Coopdech bronchial blocker has a preformed angulation to aid placement in the desired bronchus. We report two cases wherein this design may have resulted in distal tip fracture due to entanglement at the level of the Murphy's eye of the endotracheal tube or at the carina. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 49-yr-old female had a Coopdech bronchial blocker inserted into her right main bronchus for video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) lung biopsy. Resistance was encountered on its insertion, followed by confirmation of its position by fibreoptic bronchoscopy. As lung isolation was inadequate, bronchoscopy was repeated during surgery. This showed fracture of the blocker tip that required patient repositioning and insertion of another blocker. In a second incident, a bronchial blocker was inserted into the right main bronchus of a 19-yr-old male for VAT bullectomy. This procedure was performed under continuous fibreoptic guidance. Nevertheless, it was difficult to pass the blocker tip beyond the Murphy's eye of the endotracheal tube, as repeated attempts resulted in its entanglement and fracture. Another blocker was inserted by maneuvering the tip beyond the Murphy's eye. CONCLUSION: The preformed tip of the Coopdech bronchial blocker can be damaged at the Murphy's eye of the endotracheal tube or at the carina. This can result in tip fracture, especially during insertion into the right main bronchus. Maneuvering the tip away from the Murphy's eye can circumvent this problem. Continuous bronchoscopic guidance should be used as recommended by the manufacturer.