[Long-term regional anesthesia in closed chest injuries complicated by rib fracture]

Prolonged regional anesthesia used for relieving pain was given to 65 patients with closed traumas of the chest complicated by fractures of the ribs. The method was shown to be effective, simple and safe. It may be used both at the hospital and at prehospital stage. The prolonged regional anesthesia allowed reducing the amount of pulmonary complications from 4.5% to 1.7%.