Preemptive analgesia by lornoxicam - an NSAID - significantly inhibits perioperative platelet aggregation:

Presumptive Lornoxicam Intoxication in Four Dogs

Lornoxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug extensively used in human medicine, which is not approved for canine use. Lornoxicam intoxication has been rarely reported in dogs. Four dogs of various breeds, aged 7 months to 10 years, were admitted with a recent history of melena, anorexia and depression, occurring 1-4 days after the ingestion of lornoxicam (dose range: 0.53-2.7 [median 1.17] mg/kg). No clinically relevant comorbidities were documented, but low doses of prednisolone had been given in 3 of the dogs, in close temporal association with lornoxicam. Major clinical and clinicopathologic findings on admission included mucosal pallor, melena, depression, severe anemia, neutrophilic leucocytosis, and panhypoproteinemia. Perforated pyloric and duodenal ulcers were documented in 3 dogs by exploratory celiotomy or postmortem. Prolonged hospitalization (5-20 days) with extensive supportive care and multiple blood transfusions was required in 3 of the 4 dogs who survived to discharge. Lornoxicam ingestion may cause protracted and severe gastrointestinal tract injury and bleeding, blood loss anemia, panhypoproteinemia, and perforated gastrointestinal ulcers, associated with significant morbidity and mortality in dogs.

Differences in platelet aggregometers to study platelet function and coagulation dysregulation in xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation (ie, cross-species transplantation) using genetically engineered pig organs could be a limitless source to solve the shortage of organs and tissues worldwide. However, despite prolonged survival in preclinical pig-to-nonhuman primate xenotransplantation trials, interspecies coagulation dysregulation remains to be overcome in order to achieve continuous long-term success. Different platelet aggregometry methods have been previously used to study the coagulation dysregulation with wild-type and genetically engineered pig cells, including the impact of possible treatment options. Among these methods, while thromboelastography and rotational thromboelastometry measure the change in viscoelasticity, optical aggregometry measures the change in opacity. Recently, impedance aggregometry has been used to measure changes in platelet aggregation in electrical conductance, providing more information to our understanding of coagulation dysregulation in xenotransplantation compared to previous methods. The present study reviews the merits and differences of the above-mentioned platelet aggregometers in xenotransplantation research.

Safety and efficacy of pre-incisional peritonsillar lornoxicam in paediatric post-tonsillectomy pain: a prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-body clinical study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the risk of peri-operative bleeding and re-intervention with peritonsillar lornoxicam infiltration in paediatric tonsillectomy.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, split-body study.

SETTING

University hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 68 patients (7-15 years), ASA I-II, scheduled for tonsillectomy divided into two groups (n = 34) to receive bilateral peritonsillar saline infiltration (placebo group) or peritonsillar saline infiltration in one tonsil (placebo side) and 8 mg lornoxicam in the other tonsil (intervention side; study group). Drugs were administered after induction of anaesthesia and before start of surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Intra-operative and postoperative bleeding score, platelet aggregometry before and 30 min after study drug administration, the verbal rating pain scale, time to first postoperative analgesic request, total analgesic consumption during 1st 24 h postoperative and adverse effects were evaluated.

RESULTS

The difference in bleeding score between groups did not reach our definition of statistical significance (P < 0.05). Platelet aggregometry tests did not change significantly with time between groups. Lower postoperative pain scores, longer time to first analgesic request (372.76 ± 82.15 versus 64.89 ± 25.76 min P < 0.001) and lower paracetamol consumption (421.76 ± 125.63 versus 690.29 ± 141.47 mg, P < 0.001) were recorded in study group compared with control group. No patient required hospital re-admission or re-operation because of postoperative tonsillar bed bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of significant complications suggests that pre-incisional peritonsillar lornoxicam followed by intravenous paracetamol rescue analgesia may be safe for tonsillectomy in children. To avoid conflict with intra-operative bleeding, postoperative infiltration of lornoxicam is recommended.

Lornoxicam : pharmacology and usefulness to treat acute postoperative and musculoskeletal pain a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are commonly used for acute pain management. Lornoxicam is a nonselective NSAID for oral and intravenous administration. It has been available for human use since two decades and there is a growing body of evidence supporting its efficacy and tolerability for management of acute pain.

AREAS COVERED

Public domain literature around the clinical use of lornoxicam for acute pain management has been reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

There are a growing number of clinical studies documenting lornoxicam effects for short-term treatment of acute postoperative pain following various surgical procedures. It has in the majority of comparative studies been shown superior as compared to paracetamol, non-inferior compared to other NSAIDs, and commonly similarly effective as standard clinical doses of opioids, but associated with better tolerability. Its effect on other acute pain, for example, headache, back pain, or sports injury is not well studied. Lornoxicam 8 mg twice daily is a seemingly effective and tolerable alternative NSAID for use as sole agent or as part of multimodal analgesia in adults. Available data does however not show any outstanding benefits or special risk. The general precautions with regard to the use of NSAIDs, the potential risks, for example, gastrointestinal bleeding and or cardiovascular side effects must be acknowledged.