Der Schmerz
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In modern oncology, paradigmatic developments can be witnessed with respect to conceptual strategies and to individualized diagnostics and treatment approaches, but foremost with respect to the amazing number of new anticancer substances available. These developments will certainly influence the care of patients suffering from incurable and advanced cancer, where pain therapy and symptom control, quality of life and other intentions of palliative care are urgent. For cancer pain therapy and palliative care, knowledge about these developments may be helpful not only with respect to interdisciplinary decision making, but also for thoroughly balancing risks, side effects and benefits of oncological interventions that have the potential to stabilize disease progression and thereby reduce symptom intensity.
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repeated self-assessment of symptoms and problems of patients is required for quality assurance in palliative care. In Germany, the Minimal Documentation System (MIDOS) has been designed specifically for palliative care patients. To adapt MIDOS as a German version of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) a revised version of MIDOS(2) has now been validated. Two original items on average and highest pain intensity (11-step NRS) were replaced by one item on pain intensity on a 4-step VRS and the assessment of vomitus, lack of appetite and depressive mood were added to the assessment of nausea, dyspnoea, constipation, weakness, tiredness, anxiety, others and well-being which were already part of the original version. ⋯ MIDOS(2) can be recommended for routine daily documentation in palliative care because of low burden, little expenditure of time and high participation of patients. Statistical evaluation indicated good external validity and reliability.
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Calciphylaxis, or calcific uremic arteriopathy, is a rare complication of end-stage renal impairment. It is characterized by calcification of arterioles and development of intensely painful subcutaneous ischemic ulcerations. ⋯ Conventional analgesic concepts have mostly proved to be insufficient which increases the extreme suffering of patients. This case report describes the successful analgesic treatment of calciphylaxis with levomethadone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
[Impact of preoperative patient education on postoperative pain in consideration of the individual coping style].
the German guideline for the treatment of acute perioperative and post-traumatic pain (S3-Leitlinie zur Behandlung akuter perioperativer und posttraumatischer Schmerzen) recommends giving preoperative information about postoperative pain and how to influence it. It is expected that the effect of preoperative information is modified by psychological characteristics of the patient. One of these psychological characteristics is the individual coping style. The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether or not patients benefit from preoperative education in relation to their level of negative coping style. ⋯ preoperative patient information has positive effects on the postoperative development of pain. Patient information is a valuable addition to the drug pain treatment. The application can be recommended regardless of the level of the patients' negative coping style.