265 Assessing Management of Rib Fractures in the ICU Patient

Abstract

Abstract Aim Assess if the General Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are appropriately following trust guidelines on rib fracture management. Method Data gathered from patients admitted to the General Intensive Care Unit between March and May 2021 with any diagnosis code involving rib fracture (n = 19). Exclusions: patients not admitted to general ICU, or who died before being extubated. Of the remaining patients (n = 14) data gathered on: Results All patients were prescribed regular simple analgesia. Most patients were prescribed strong analgesia (n = 10) and lidocaine patches (n = 13). All patients had regular pain assessments. 9 patients were referred for a block/epidural, out of 12 who met criteria for referral. 10 patients were referred for rib fixation, and 4 patients had rib fixation, out of 11 who met criteria for referral. 6 patients developed a LRTI post rib fracture. Conclusions The basic management of rib fractures in General ICU is appropriate; 100% of patients had analgesia prescribed and had regular assessments of pain. However, some patients who met criteria for consideration of a block (n = 3) or fixation (n = 1) did not have documentation that they were referred. Rib fractures often do not occur in isolation, and it may be that other injuries served as distractors.