Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of a Preoperative Gabapentin on Postoperative Analgesia in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Following Major Bowel Surgery: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
Postoperative pain management for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be challenging. These patients have a high tolerance to pain medication, and relative contraindications to the use of epidural analgesia, limiting the pain management options. We evaluated the effect of a single preoperative gabapentin dose on opioid consumption for patients with IBD undergoing abdominal surgery. Secondary outcomes were postoperative pain scores, opioid-related side effects, and patient's length of hospital stay. ⋯ This study examined the effect of a single preoperative administration of gabapentin in patients with IBD undergoing major bowel surgery. Our results suggest a single preoperative oral dose of gabapentin 600 mg does not reduce postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, or opioid-related side effects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment for Patients with Shoulder Pain Booked for Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal problem and accounts for 5% of general practitioner consultations. Although many treatments are described, there is no consensus on optimal treatment and up to 40% of patients still have pain 12 months after initially seeking help for pain. Previously, the effect of transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment (TCPRFT) was evaluated in a retrospective audit that showed good pain relief for a mean 395 days and justified this randomized sham controlled trial. ⋯ Pain at both rest and shoulder elevation were not improved by active treatment. No complications were seen. This study of a simple, low risk, outpatient treatment confirms the findings of our earlier study of TCPRFT for knee pain and shoulder pain audit that transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment may help some people with painful shoulders.
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Case Reports
Neuropathic Pain with Features of Complex Regional Syndrome in the Upper Extremity after Herpes Zoster.
We report a case of a 73-year-old female who developed unbearable neuropathic pain after a herpes zoster episode. The pain persisted and could not be controlled despite multimodal analgesia. In addition to postherpetic neuralgia, myelitis and complex regional pain syndrome were diagnosed during the evolution of neuropathic pain. This complex neuropathic pain was resolved after sympathetic ganglion block.
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Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a common complication of surgery with high impact on quality of life. Peripheral and central sensitization caused by enhanced and prolonged afferent nociceptive input are considered important mechanisms for the development of CPSP. This case-control study investigated whether epidural analgesia is associated with a reduced incidence of CPSP after open abdominal surgery. ⋯ Chronic postsurgical pain occurs in a significant number of patients 6 months after open abdominal surgery. Postoperative epidural analgesia is associated with a reduced incidence of CPSP after abdominal surgery.
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Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and associated costs specific to pain are a growing concern, as increasing dollar amounts are spent on pain-related conditions. Understanding which pain conditions drive the highest utilization and cost burden to the healthcare system would enable providers and payers to better target conditions to manage pain adequately and efficiently. The current study focused on 36 noncancer chronic and 14 noncancer acute pain conditions and measured the HCRU and costs per member over 365 days. ⋯ The conditions ranked highest for both per-member and total healthcare costs were hip fractures, childbirth, and non-hip, non-spine fractures. Among these, hip fractures in the Medicare member population had the highest mean cost per member (adjusted per-member cost was $21,058). Further examination specific to how pain is managed in these high-cost conditions will enable providers and payers to develop strategies to improve patient outcomes through appropriate pain management.