Articles: acute-pain.
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In the last few years great interest has developed in new modes of opioid administration; oral transmucosal, transdermal, peripheral, and nasal administration. Oral transmucosal administration of fentanyl citrate (OTFC) has most often been used for premedication in children. Meanwhile, studies on the use of OTFC in cancer patients for postoperative pain management have also been published. ⋯ Nonetheless, intranasal opioids guarantee a rapid rise in opioid plasma concentrations as well as a rapid onset of pain relief. This mode of administration seems to be especially suitable for the treatment of acute pain syndromes, such as breakthrough cancer pain or incident pain. Patient acceptance is high, and no local problems were reported.
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The severe pain of a renal colic is an emergency and requires a fast and sufficient analgesic therapy with few side-effects. The release of the ureteral obstruction is secondary to this initial treatment. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis directly interferes with the mechanism of renal colic pain. ⋯ They should be administered intravenously if possible. Narcotic agents and their derivatives are the second choice. Spasmolytic agents are unnecessary in the treatment of renal colic.
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Abdominal pain is an important and the most frequent symptom of acute gastrointestinal diseases; crucial hints on the diagnosis can be gleaned from its location and from associated symptoms and signs. As symptomatic therapy the treatment of pain plays a major role in acute gastrointestinal diseases, e.g. the acute abdomen, acute pancreatitis, biliary colic, peptic ulcer disease and diverticulitis. ⋯ Acute severe pain arising from biliary colic and acute pancreatitis should be treated with an opioid that does not influence the sphincter of Oddi or the pressure in the common bile duct, e.g. buprenorphine, nalbuphine or tramadol. An effective but not widely known therapy for colic pain is parenteral administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, e.g. indomethacin or diclofenac.
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PCAO (patient-controlled analgesia in outpatients) is a new treatment concept designed to overcome chronic or acute pain of cancer patients. From 1989 to 1992, a total of with tumour pain 204 patients were treated in the pain clinics of Fürth in cooperation with the Department of Radiation at the University Hospital in Regensburg. In 90 of these patients adequate oral medication was impossible because of problems in swallowing or blockage of the gastrointestinal tract, and subcutaneous opioid infusion over 24 h was therefore instituted. ⋯ PCAO for treatment of cancer patients at home yields freedom from of pain around the clock, independence, and quality of life with active personal involvement. The most important thing is that the patient can sleep during the night, as can the doctor, the nurse and relatives, as they do not need to give injections during the night. This new method of treating the pain of cancer patients at home in advanced disease is also well accepted by social security authorities, as it reduces the costs dramatically.
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An increasing number of papers deal with immunological factors in headache syndromes such as migraine and cluster headache. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the factors that have been measured and to assess their reliability and relevance for the pathogenesis of these headaches. Most of the studies are handicapped by methodological problems, especially the different classifications of headaches, the lack of adequate controls and methodological problems with the measurement of certain immune parameters. ⋯ Although the immunological changes have been shown to be valid, their pathogenesis in these headaches is unclear. With the increasing recognition of the existence of a neuroimmunologic network, alterations in each system should always be considered to be associated with changes in an other. Acute or chronic pain seems to trigger immunological abnormalities.