Articles: pain-management.
-
What 'acceptable pain' means may be different for everyone and dependent on the moment and the context. In this text, we explore the concepts of pain acceptability and acceptance. We explain why we need to better explore (un)acceptable pain, to eventually facilitate pain assessment and management. ⋯ What does 'acceptable pain' mean may differ between people with painful experiences and may depend on contextual factors. Pain acceptability may be distinct from manageability, and may precede, follow and/or inform the 'pain acceptance' process. This text, rigorously based on a review of the existing literature, defends the idea that acceptable pain should be better studied.
-
Pain after cardiac surgery via median sternotomy can be difficult to treat, and if inadequately managed can lead to respiratory complications, prolonged hospital stays and chronic pain. ⋯ The analgesic regimen for cardiac surgery via sternotomy should include paracetamol and NSAIDs, unless contraindicated, administered intra-operatively and continued postoperatively. Intra-operative magnesium and dexmedetomidine infusions may be considered as adjuncts particularly when basic analgesics are not administered. It is not clear if combining dexmedetomidine and magnesium would provide superior pain relief compared with either drug alone. Parasternal block/surgical site infiltration is also recommended. However, no basic analgesics were used in the studies assessing these interventions. Opioids should be reserved for rescue analgesia. Other interventions, including cyclo-oxygenase-2 specific inhibitors, are not recommended because there was insufficient, inconsistent or no evidence to support their use and/or due to safety concerns.
-
Pain associated with cancer is one of the most significant concerns for patients, families, and health care providers. Various barriers may hinder optimal pain management. ⋯ Significant differences were found in the perspectives of patients, physicians, and nurses toward pain management barriers in the overall barriers, communication, and harmful effect. It is recommended to develop awareness programs for patients about pain management, barriers, use of analgesia, and communication. Nurses and physicians are advised to discuss mutual concerns and pay more attention to overcoming patient concerns.
-
Patients' pain beliefs are the main obstacle to effective pain management. Assessing and correcting negative perceptions is important for improving pain intensity and quality of life of patients with cancer pain. ⋯ Negative pain beliefs are common among oral cancer patients. This novel application of the self-regulatory model demonstrates that it can be used to capture the key pain beliefs (i.e., cognitions, emotions, and coping responses) of oral cancer patients within a single, unifying framework.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2023
Use of ketamine wafer for pain management by volunteer emergency medical technicians in rural Western Australia.
To describe the use of sublingual ketamine wafers administered by volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for pain management to patients in rural Western Australia (WA). ⋯ Sublingual ketamine wafer was administered by volunteer EMTs without any evidence of major adverse events in rural WA and deemed useful as an additional pain management option when long transport to hospital was needed. No other symptoms that may be associated with the use of ketamine were recorded.