Articles: acute-pain.
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Decision-making in acute chest pain remains challenging despite normal (below ninety-ninth percentile) high-sensitivity troponin (hs-cTn). Some studies suggest that undetectable hs-cTn, far below the ninety-ninth percentile, might rule out acute coronary syndrome. We investigated clinical data in comparison to undetectable hs-cTnT. ⋯ Likewise, the negative predictive values of score = 0 (97.5%, 100%) and ≤1 point (95.9%, 100%) were higher than using undetectable hs-cTnT (91.9%, 98.1%). Both clinical scores of 0 and ≤1 better classified patients at risk of MACE (p = 0.0001, log-rank test) than hs-cTnT <5 ng/l (p = 0.06). In conclusion, clinical data can guide decision-making and perform at least equally well as undetectable hs-cTnT, in patients presenting at the emergency department with chest pain and normal hs-cTnT.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prognostic Value of Coronary Artery Calcium Score in Acute Chest Pain Patients Without Known Coronary Artery Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a well-established test for risk stratifying asymptomatic patients. Recent studies also indicate that CACS may accurately risk stratify stable patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain; however, many were underpowered. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the prognostic value and accuracy of a zero (normal) CACS for identifying patients at acceptable low risk for future cardiovascular events who might be safely discharged home from the ED. ⋯ Acute chest pain patients without history of coronary artery disease, ischemic ECG changes, or increased cardiac enzyme levels commonly have a CACS of zero, with a very low subsequent risk of MACEs or death or myocardial infarction. This meta-analysis proffers the potential role of initial CACS testing for avoiding unnecessary hospitalization and further cardiac testing in acute chest pain patients with a CACS of zero.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Local Anesthetic Concentration (0.2% vs 0.1% Ropivacaine) on Pulmonary Function, and Analgesia After Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized Controlled Study.
This study aims to assess diaphragmatic excursion and measure pulmonary functions as measures of the degree to which the phrenic nerve is blocked after ISB with two different concentrations of ropivacaine: 0.2% and 0.1%. ⋯ 0.1% ropivacaine may impair pulmonary function less than 0.2% ropivacaine. The clinical significance of these differences needs to be further studied.
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Expert Opin Pharmacother · Dec 2016
ReviewSufentanil sublingual tablet system for the management of postoperative pain.
Intravenous patient-controlled opioid analgesia has been an important improvement in addressing insufficient management of acute postoperative pain for over 40 years. However, there are number of weaknesses for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, including operator and device error, intravenous line patency issues, and risk of catheter-related infection, all of which contribute to the complications and increase in cost of care. The sublingual sufentanil tablet system is a major evolution in both drug and technological management of postoperative pain. ⋯ Expert opinion: The sublingual sufentanil tablet system can decrease intravenous opioid based patient-controlled analgesia related complications and safety issues. Current clinical studies have demonstrated this noninvasive-novel system to be safe and effective in management of acute pain in the postsurgical setting. Researchers should focus on comparing it with other available patient controlled analgesia modalities and evaluating the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the sublingual sufentanil tablet system.