Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Major traumatic injuries are a known risk factor for persistent opioid use, but data describing the relationship between specific traumatic injuries and opioid use is lacking. ⋯ These data demonstrate that new persistent opioid use frequently occurs in these common hospitalized trauma populations. Improved interventions to reduce persistent pain and opioid use in patients hospitalized after these and other traumas are needed.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Feb 2024
Cohort study of new off-label gabapentin prescribing in chronic opioid users.
Gabapentin is commonly prescribed as an off-label adjunct to opioids because of its safer risk profile. Recent evidence has shown an increased risk of mortality when coprescribed with opioids. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether the addition of off-label gabapentin in patients with chronic opioid use is associated with a reduction in opioid dosage. ⋯ In this study of patients with chronic opioid use, an off-label gabapentin prescription did not reduce opioid dosage in the majority of patients. The coprescribing of these medications should be critically evaluated to ensure optimal patient safety.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Feb 2024
Trends of liposomal bupivacaine utilization in major lower extremity total joint arthroplasty in the USA: a population-based study.
Liposomal bupivacaine has been marketed for the achievement of long-acting local or regional anesthesia after major lower extremity total joint arthroplasty. However, it is comparatively expensive and controversy remains regarding its ability to decrease healthcare costs. With mounting evidence suggesting non-superiority in efficacy, compared with plain bupivacaine, we sought to investigate trends in liposomal bupivacaine use and identify changes in practice. ⋯ Liposomal bupivacaine use peaked around 2015 and has been declining thereafter on individual patient and hospital levels. How these trends correlate with health outcomes and expenditures would be a strategic target for future research.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Feb 2024
National review of acute pain service utilization, models of care, and clinical practices within the Veterans Health Administration.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest healthcare network in the USA and has been a national leader in opioid safety for acute pain management. However, detailed information on the availability and characteristics of acute pain services within its facilities is lacking. We designed this project to assess the current state of acute pain services within the VHA. ⋯ Despite widespread efforts to promote opioid safety and improve pain management, the availability of dedicated acute pain services within the VHA is not universal. Higher complexity programs are more likely to have acute pain services, which may reflect differential resource distribution, but the barriers to implementation have not yet been fully explored.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Feb 2024
Emergence of xylazine as a public health threat: what does the anesthesiologist need to know for perioperative care?
This paper explores the rapid emergence of xylazine exposure in the USA and its implications for anesthesiologists. Xylazine, a non-opioid sedative and analgesic often used in veterinary medicine, has increasingly been found as an adulterant in the illicit substance supply, leading to serious health implications. ⋯ Furthermore, this paper necessitates an epidemiological understanding for detection and multidisciplinary collaboration in addressing this emerging public health threat. The manuscript concludes by emphasizing the role anesthesiologists will have to play in managing the clinical implications of xylazine and contributing to public health strategies aimed at curbing its misuse.