Case report demonstrates successful pain relief in a patient with chronic post-sternotomy pain, suggesting a new treatment approach.
Chronic post-sternotomy pain is a clinical problem that can impair quality of life. We report a case of refractory chest pain after coronary artery bypass grafting that was successfully treated using pecto-intercostal fascial plane radiofrequency ablation (PIFP-RFA). A 72-year-old man presented with persistent anterior chest pain that was unresponsive to medication for 1 year. Diagnostic PIFP blocks produced temporary complete pain relief, prompting the decision to perform RFA. Ultrasound-guided PIFP-RFA at the third and fourth parasternal intercostal levels bilaterally achieved complete pain resolution. This case highlights the safety and potential long-term efficacy of PIFP-RFA in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.
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OKABE et al. (2026) studied this question.
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