European journal of anaesthesiology. Supplement
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Eur J Anaesthesiol Suppl · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Meta Analysis Clinical TrialMeta-analysis of single dose oral tramadol plus acetaminophen in acute postoperative pain.
Trials in acute postoperative pain are usually small. Pooling homogenous data from a number of trials in a meta-analysis enables a truer estimate of efficacy. The aims of the present meta-analysis were to assess the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of single-dose oral tramadol plus acetaminophen (paracetamol) in acute postoperative pain, and to demonstrate the efficacy of the combination formulation compared with its components. ⋯ Meta-analysis confirmed the analgesic superiority of the combination treatment over its components, without additional toxicity. Combination analgesic formulations are an important and effective means of pain relief, and should prove useful in treating elderly and other groups of patients who often cannot tolerate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including the newer COX-2 inhibitors.
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Eur J Anaesthesiol Suppl · Jan 2003
ReviewClinical pharmacology and rationale of analgesic combinations.
Oral fixed drug combination analgesics have potential advantages over monotherapy, but these can only be attained through careful design. ⋯ In summary, combination analgesics can play a valuable role in pain management. However, dubious combinations (directed against the same targets or with unwanted interactions) and 'old fashioned' fixed-dose multiple analgesic agent combinations should be avoided. Fixed-dose combination analgesics are of value only when they have been developed according to rational pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic criteria, and when claims for their benefits have been supported by evidence-based data and well-designed clinical studies.
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Eur J Anaesthesiol Suppl · Jan 2003
Euroanaesthesia 2003. Abstracts of the joint meeting of the European Society of Anaesthesiologists and European Academy of Anaesthesiology, Confederation of European National Societies of Anaesthesiology, and Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland. May 31-June 3, 2003. Glasgow, Scotland.
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Eur J Anaesthesiol Suppl · Jan 2002
ReviewSex differences in analgesic responses: evidence from experimental pain models.
Sex-related influences on the experience of pain have received considerable empirical attention. Women are at greater risk for several forms of clinical pain and exhibit greater perceptual responses to experimental pain. In recent years, investigators have turned their attention to the influence of sex-related factors on analgesic responses. The purpose of this review is to examine the literature on sex differences in analgesic responses, emphasizing findings from experimental studies. ⋯ Both previous research and preliminary findings from our laboratory suggests that opioids produce greater analgesic responses in women than men. Potential mechanisms underlying sex differences in analgesia are proposed, and important directions for future research are suggested.