Der Schmerz
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In 1986 the World Health Organisation (WHO) proposed an analgesic ladder for the effective therapy of cancer pain. The three standard analgesics making up this ladder are aspirin (non-opioid), codeine (weak opioid) and morphine (strong opioid). Adjuvant drugs may be added at any level. However, before 1986 step II analgesics (weak opioids) had never been tested in cancer pain relief. ⋯ The use of the WHO guidelines "by mouth, by the clock and by the ladder" is now the mainstay of cancer pain management. Because of the guidelines' simplicity they found general acceptance and helped to establish an international pain therapy standard for worldwide use. Nevertheless, there is no scientific validation of WHO step II. In the absence of prospective controlled randomized trials additional longterm results are necessary. We need more data on the use of WHO step II and an update of the published guidelines taking account of modern sustained-release drugs. Up to now, step II of the WHO guidelines for cancer pain is not a clinical reality but at best a didactic instrument.
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In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 112 patients scheduled for knee-joint arthrotomies or minor orthopaedic operations received 75 mg diclofenac, 600 mg apazone, the combination of 75 mg diclofenac and 600 mg apazone, or placebo (50 ml NaCl 0.9%) as a single i.v. dose immediately after operation. Postoperative pain intensity was measured by a numeric rating scale. All patients were allowed to self-administer piritramide from a PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) pump (Prominjekt, Pharmacia, Sweden) in 2-mg boluses every 5 min during the first 6 h and subsequently every 15 minfor another 18 h after surgery. ⋯ The incidence of typical side effects of opioids and antipyretic anti-inflammatory analgesics (nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, headache, vertigo) was low, and they were easily controlled in all cases. Postoperative combined application of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics diclofenac and apazone results in a significantly lower opioid requirement (about 60%) after minor orthopaedic surgery. The opioid-sparing effect appears to be superior to that of diclofenac (44%) or apazone (42%) alone, but this was not statistically significant.
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A 21-year-old man suffered from diffuse low back pain and sciatica for 10-s periods once or twice a day over a period of 6 months. After this, pain became chronic and was resistant to conventional conservative treatment. Only acetylsalicylic acid diminished pain. ⋯ The time between onset of symptoms and final diagnosis was 18 months. Symptoms disappeared after surgery. Clinical and radiological aspects of the case are discussed.
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Undertreatment of cancer pain is a well-known and worldwide problem. Every country has its specific restrictions. In Germany studies have referred undertreatment to pain states and therapeutic aspects in transverse inquiries, and others to 6-month records of regional prescription data. This study adds some long-term (3 years) information about doctors' (330 general practitioners throughout Germany) prescribing habits concerning strong opioids. ⋯ We urgently need more information on the underlying reasons for the undertreatment of cancer pain. The data presented so far make it possible to draw up guidelines and a graduated education programme for patients and health care professionals.