Pain management for Elderly Patients with Multiple Rib Fractures, using Ketamine Infusion

Introduction: Rib fractures are responsible for 25% of all the trauma associated deaths; this occurs in approximately 40-80% of the patients diagnosed.(1) Intensive care support is necessary for some cases of these patients to check on the risks factor and initiate the treatment program for them.(2) Rib fractures are common problem and are very painful for the patients; giving them appropriate pain relievers will be an excellent way to handle the patients; besides, this will reduce the incidences leading to pneumonia and other complications like a respiratory failure.(3) When the treatment of patients with multiple rib fractures is delayed, they can also result in hypoventilation. Pain management is an essential factor for preventing complications associated with their conditions because there can be underlying injuries within the body. There is a necessity to have adequate pain control in handling the rib fractures and have effective respiratory therapy to reduce pulmonary complications and mortality.(4) However, a need to find an alternative pain management intervention became crucial after discovering the adverse effects the opioids have on the elderly patients. Kugler?s study(5) aims to find alternative analgesics (ketamine) used in rib fracture management since opioids have been associated with related negative consequences.