[Dorsal peridural analgesia in thoracic traumatisms (author's transl)]

Prolonged dorsal peridural analgesia is technically easy to achieve: after puncture in the middle of the metameric segment to be anaesthetized, an extradural catheter is inserted and graded doses of bupivacaine are injected. The method provides a valuable contribution to the management of thoracic traumas and is indicated for multiple fractures of the ribs, intolerable pains and flaioe chest. It reduces the incidence of bronchopulmonary complications due to accumulated secretions and of hypoxia from impaired gas exchanges or enlarged physiological dead space. It helps to overcome the acute stage of chest injury, prevents or limits its pernicious effects and shortens the patients' stay in hospital.