Anesthesia and analgesia
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Post-cesarean delivery pain relief is important. Good pain relief will improve mobility and can reduce the risk of thromboembolic disease, which is increased during pregnancy. Pain may also impair the mother's ability to optimally care for her infant in the immediate postpartum period and may adversely affect early interactions between mother and infant. ⋯ The most commonly used modalities are systemic administration of opioids, either by intramuscular injection or i.v. by patient-controlled analgesia, and neuraxial injection of opioid as part of a regional anesthetic for cesarean delivery. These techniques have specific advantages and disadvantages which will be discussed in this review. In addition, there are new drug applications of potential benefit for the treatment of post-cesarean delivery pain.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2005
ReviewEmerging techniques in the management of acute pain: epidural analgesia.
Epidural analgesia, often using opioids intraoperatively and postoperatively, is widely accepted as a valuable modality for perioperative pain management. In this review I present data from meta-analyses and recently published trials that evaluate the perioperative use of opioids administered epidurally or parenterally (as-needed or by patient-controlled analgesia) and their effect on outcome. ⋯ A new treatment option, a single epidural injection of morphine for continuous perioperative analgesia (DepoDur; Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc, Chadds Ford, PA), may reduce some of these problems. Data from recent clinical studies are presented.
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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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One of the most common methods for providing postoperative analgesia is via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Although the typical approach is to administer opioids via a programmable infusion pump, other drugs and other modes of administration are available. This article reviews the history and practice of many aspects of PCA and provides extensive guidelines for the practice of PCA-administered opioids. In addition, potential adverse effects and recommendations for their monitoring and treatment are reviewed.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Nov 2005
ReviewThe changing role of non-opioid analgesic techniques in the management of postoperative pain.
Given the expanding role of ambulatory surgery and the need to facilitate an earlier hospital discharge, improving postoperative pain control has become an increasingly important issue for all anesthesiologists. As a result of the shift from inpatient to outpatient surgery, the use of IV patient-controlled analgesia and continuous epidural infusions has steadily declined. ⋯ The opioid-sparing effects of these compounds may lead to reduced nausea, vomiting, constipation, urinary retention, respiratory depression and sedation. Therefore, use of non-opioid analgesic techniques can lead to an improved quality of recovery for surgical patients.