[Comparison of clinical effectiveness of thoracic epidural and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia for the treatment of rib fractures pain in intensive care unit].

Abstract

We suggest that the use of thoracic epidural analgesia with infusion of local anesthetics and opioids are more appropriate as they provide more effective analgesia and shorten length of intensive care unit stay in chest trauma patients with more than three rib fractures who require intensive care.