Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2005
ReviewThe role of intrathecal drugs in the treatment of acute pain.
Intrathecal opioids are widely used as useful adjuncts in the treatment of acute and chronic pain, and a number of non-opioid drugs show promise as analgesic drugs with spinal selectivity. In this review we examine the historical development and current use of intrathecal opioids and other drugs that show promise for treating pain in the perioperative period. ⋯ Available data on the use of non-opioid drugs that have been tested intrathecally for use as analgesics are also reviewed. Evidence-based guidelines for dosing of intrathecal drugs for specific surgical procedures and for the treatment of the most common side effects associated with these drugs are presented.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2005
ReviewSacroiliac joint pain: a comprehensive review of anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment.
Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain is a challenging condition affecting 15% to 25% of patients with axial low back pain, for which there is no standard long-term treatment. Recent studies have demonstrated that historical and physical examination findings and radiological imaging are insufficient to diagnose SI joint pain. The most commonly used method to diagnose the SI joint as a pain generator is with small-volume local anesthetic blocks, although the validity of this practice remains unproven. In the present review I provide a comprehensive review of the anatomy, function, and mechanisms of injury of the SI joint, along with a systematic assessment of its diagnosis and treatment.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2005
Case ReportsDelayed respiratory depression after risperidone overdose.
Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug used for the treatment of schizophrenia. Both positive and negative symptoms are prominent with its use. Metabolism occurs mainly in the liver, where risperidone is changed by CUP2D6 to an active metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone. ⋯ Genetic polymorphism is seen in the 6%-8% of white patients who are considered poor metabolizers. In poor metabolizers, the half-life extends to 20-30 h. We present an unusual case of unanticipated delayed respiratory depression after risperidone overdose.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2005
Validation of a behavioral pain scale in critically ill, sedated, and mechanically ventilated patients.
Assessing pain in critically ill patients, particularly in nonverbal patients, is a great challenge. In this study, we validated a behavioral pain scale (BPS) in critically ill, sedated, and mechanically ventilated patients. The BPS score was the sum of 3 subscales that have a range score of 1-4: facial expression, upper limb movements, and compliance with mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Validity was demonstrated by the change in BPS scores, which were significantly higher during painful procedures, with averages of 3.9 +/- 1.1 at rest and 6.8 +/- 1.9 during procedures (P < 0.001), and by the principal components factor analysis, which revealed a large first-factor accounting for 65% of the variance in pain expression. The BPS exhibited excellent responsiveness, with an effect size ranging from 2.2 to 3.4. This study demonstrated that the BPS can be valid and reliable for measuring pain in noncommunicative intensive care unit patients.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2005
Case ReportsContinuous maxillary and mandibular nerve block for perioperative pain relief: the excision of a complicated pleomorphic adenoma.
A 68-yr-old hypertensive patient with ischemic heart disease and intractable atrial fibrillation with stable hemodynamics and poor chest compliance underwent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland using regional anesthesia with continuous propofol sedation. Continuous maxillary and mandibular nerve blocks were performed and excision was performed with complete intraoperative and postoperative pain relief without compromising the patient's hemodynamic variables.