Bachoumas K, Levrat A, Le Thuaut A, et al. - Researchers undertook this retrospective, observational, multicenter study to investigate if epidural analgesia (EA) in patients with fractured ribs who were not intubated at ICU admission reduced the requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Risk factors for IMV were also identified. This investigation was carried out in 40 ICUs in France and involved consecutive patients with three or more fractured ribs who were not intubated at admission. Experts found chronic respiratory disease, worse Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, flail chest, worse Injury Severity Score, higher respiratory rate at admission, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, and noninvasive ventilation, were the factors independently related to IMV. Findings demonstrated no link of EA with a lower risk of IMV among chest trauma patients with at least 3 fractured ribs, moderate pain, and no intubation on admission.