Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Feb 2025
ReviewMachine learning research methods to predict postoperative pain and opioid use: a narrative review.
The use of machine learning to predict postoperative pain and opioid use has likely been catalyzed by the availability of complex patient-level data, computational and statistical advancements, the prevalence and impact of chronic postsurgical pain, and the persistence of the opioid crisis. The objectives of this narrative review were to identify and characterize methodological aspects of studies that have developed and/or tested machine learning algorithms to predict acute, subacute, or chronic pain or opioid use after any surgery and to propose considerations for future machine learning studies. Pairs of independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts of 280 PubMed-indexed articles and ultimately extracted data from 61 studies that met entry criteria. ⋯ We identified variability in sample size, number and type of predictors, and how outcome variables were defined. Patient-reported predictors were highlighted as particularly informative and important to include in such machine learning algorithms, where possible. We hope that findings from this review might inform future applications of machine learning that improve the performance and clinical utility of resultant machine learning algorithms.
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Chronic pain after surgery, also known as chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP), is recognized as a significant public health issue with serious medical and economic consequences. Current research on CPSP underscores the significant roles of both peripheral and central sensitization in pain development and maintenance. Peripheral sensitization occurs at the site of injury, through the hyperexcitability of nerve fibers due to surgical damage and the release of inflammatory mediators. ⋯ These glial cells release substances that further increase neuronal excitability, maintaining the sensitized state and contributing to persistent pain. The activation of antinociceptive systems is required for the resolution of pain after surgery, and default in these systems may also be considered as an important component of CPSP. In this review, we will examine the clinical factors underlying CPSP in patients and the mechanisms previously established in preclinical models of CPSP that may explain how acute postoperative pain may transform into chronic pain in patients.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Feb 2025
Global estimates of prevalence of chronic painful neuropathy among patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 28 countries, 2000-24.
Although the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) has been reported, the proportion of patients with CIPN who report chronic painful neuropathy remains poorly understood, despite its significant impact on patients' quality of life and treatment outcomes. ⋯ This study provides the first comprehensive global estimate of the prevalence of chronic painful CIPN, highlighting its significant burden on patients worldwide. The variation in prevalence across geographical regions, chemotherapy regimens, and primary cancers underscores the need for tailored pain management strategies and further research to address potential disparities.