Low-dose dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to serratus anterior plane block for chest trauma in critically ill patient: Three case reports.

Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is an effective regional anesthesia technique for chest wall analgesia. In this article, we report three cases of critically ill patients with chest trauma in whom a single-shot SAPB combined with low-dose dexmedetomidine (DEX) was used as part of a multimodal analgesia strategy. In all cases, SAPB with DEX provided effective and prolonged analgesia, with pain relief lasting up to 72 hours. The technique also contributed to improved respiratory function and facilitated clinical decision-making during the weaning process in one patient by helping to distinguish pain-related respiratory limitation from diaphragmatic dysfunction. In conclusion, SAPB with low-dose DEX may be a safe and effective option for chest wall analgesia at T3-T8 levels, even in polytrauma patients.