Adrianne Randall
Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, England
Title: Fascia iliaca compartment block: A nurse-led initiative for preoperative pain management in patients with a fractured neck of femur
Biography
Biography: Adrianne Randall
Abstract
Having investigated the efficacy, feasibility, safety and cost complications of using the little known “fascia iliaca compartment block” as a method of pain relief, the Pain Management Team at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital pioneered a nurse-led service, providing effective long acting pain relief in the preoperative period, for patients who had sustained a fractured neck of femur, consequently improving their quality of life by reducing pain and the additional complications such as chest infection, pressures sored and deep vein thrombosis, due to a lack of mobility whilst awaiting surgery. Fractured neck of femur is a serious and costly injury affecting mainly elderly population, which causes considerable pain when untreated or undertreated. The fascia iliaca compartment block for pain relief, provides an additional margin of safety because the needle is inserted distally to the femoral neurovascular bundle. It was therefore felt that nonmedical personnel could be taught to perform the block, enabling more patients to benefit from improved pain management and a reduction in the concurrent use of systemic opioids, thereby decreasing the incidence of opioid induced confusion in the target group and facilitating better nursing care. Specialist nurses were given the requisite training in patient selection, consent, performing the block and the management of possible complications.
