Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Sep 2020
ReviewAn evidence-based review of CGRP mechanisms in the propagation of chronic visceral pain.
Chronic pain is typically defined as pain that persists after acute tissue damage and inflammation or as pain that follows a chronic disease process and lasts more than three months. Because of its debilitating impact on the quality of life of patients, recent research aims to investigate the mechanisms behind nociception to discover novel therapeutic agents to alleviate pain. ⋯ Effective treatments of migraines with CGRP antagonists have stimulated our efforts toward checking a possible involvement of CGRP in nonheadache pain conditions such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular ischemia. Here, we provide a brief overview of chronic pain, with a particular emphasis on the role of CGRP as a fundamental mediator of nociceptive pain as well as a target for novel therapeutic agents.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Sep 2020
ReviewUse of cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of chronic pain.
Chronic pain can be recurrent or constant pain that lasts for longer than 3 months and can result in disability, suffering, and a physical disturbance. Related to the complex nature of chronic pain, treatments have a pharmacological and non-pharmacological approach. ⋯ The current pharmaceutical products for the treatment of chronic pain are known as nabiximols, and they contain a ratio of THC combined with CBD, which has been promising. This review focuses on the treatment efficacy of CBD, THC: CBD-based treatments for chronic pain and adverse events with each.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Sep 2020
ReviewImpact of COVID-19 pandemic on chronic pain management: Looking for the best way to deliver care.
Although pain treatment has been described as a fundamental human right, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced healthcare systems worldwide to redistribute healthcare resources toward intensive care units and other COVID-19 dedicated sites. As most chronic pain services were subsequently deemed non-urgent, all outpatient and elective interventional procedures have been reduced or interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to reduce the risk of viral spread. The shutdown of pain services jointly to the home lockdown imposed by governments has affected chronic pain management worldwide with additional impact on patients' psychological health. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on chronic pain treatment and to address what types of strategies can be implemented or supported in order to overcome imposed limitations in delivery of chronic pain patient care.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Sep 2020
ReviewUtilization of B12 for the treatment of chronic migraine.
Chronic migraine is a particular classification of a headache that is typically unilateral and pulsatile and lasts for at least 3 months. Owing to its high prevalence and detrimental impact on personal, social, and economic aspects of patient lives, much desire has gone into fully understanding the pathogenesis of migraine, and to search for therapeutic agents. ⋯ Specifically, the observed effects of vitamin B12 on nitric oxide and homocysteine prompt further investigation of its underlying mechanisms in migraine pathophysiology. In this comprehensive review, we provide a brief overview of migraines and current therapies while focusing on the promising role of vitamin B12 as a possible treatment option for chronic migraine management.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Sep 2020
ReviewPharmacogenomics, concepts for the future of perioperative medicine and pain management: A review.
Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genetic differences between individuals affect pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. These differences are apparent to clinicians when taking into account the wide range of responses to medications given in clinical practice. ⋯ The implementation of preoperative pharmacogenomics will allow us to better care for our patients by delivering personalized, safer medicine. This review describes the current state of pharmacogenomics as it relates to many aspects of clinical practice and how clinicians can use these tools to improve patient outcomes.