A new thoracic interfascial plane block as anesthesia for difficult weaning due to ribcage pain in critically ill patients.

Interfascial plane block of anterior and lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves, known as pecto-intercostal fascial plane block (PIFB) and serratus--intercostal plane block (SIFB), is an anesthetic procedure for ribcage anesthesia not previously reported in the setting of critical care. A similar anesthetic technique has proven adequate pain control during and after abdominal and breast surgery. Patients with chest trauma and rib fractures or patients with endothoracic drainage tubes (EDTs) often need deep sedoanalgesia, hindering weaning. The use of ultrasoundguided interfascial plane block in critically ill patients opens up several possibilities to improve pain control, decreasing the need of other forms of conventional analgesia.