Analgesic abuse in the elderly. Renal sequelae and management

Provider-directed analgesia for dental pain

INTRODUCTION

Extraction of impacted molar teeth is a common procedure performed by oral surgeons and general dentists, with postoperative pain being a significant adverse event post-surgery. If mismanaged, pain can lead to complications that impact oral and systemic health. The current scourge of the opioid epidemic has ushered in a new era of provider-directed analgesic (PDA) therapy in dentistry.

AREAS COVERED

This article provides an in-depth review on the major pharmacological and therapeutic properties of established and alternative analgesics used to manage dental pain.

EXPERT OPINION

Substantial evidence-based literature shows combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID; e.g. ibuprofen) and acetaminophen provides superior pain relief than single-agent or combination opioid regimens. However, there are clinical scenarios (e.g. severe pain) when short-course opioid prescription is appropriate in select patients, in which a 2-3-day treatment duration is typically sufficient. Alternative agents (e.g. caffeine, gabapentin, phytotherapies), typically in combination with established agents, can mitigate postoperative dental pain. Some evidence suggests preemptive therapies (e.g. corticosteroids, NSAIDs) reduce amounts of postsurgical analgesic consumption and might lessen opioid prescription burden. In summary, this comprehensive review provides an opportune update on the evolving landscape of pharmacotherapy for acute postsurgical dental pain, informing best practices for PDA in the dental setting.

Acute Pain Management Pharmacology for the Patient with Concurrent Renal or Hepatic Disease

The clinical utility of most analgesic drugs is altered in the presence of patients with impaired renal or hepatic function not simply because of altered clearance of the parent drug, but also through production and accumulation of toxic or therapeutically active metabolites. Some analgesic agents may also aggravate pre-existing renal and hepatic disease.

A search was performed, taking in published articles and pharmaceutical data to determine available evidence for managing acute pain effectively and safely in these two patient groups. The resulting information consisted mainly of small group pharmacokinetic studies or case reports, which included a large variation in degree of organ dysfunction.

In the presence of renal impairment, those drugs which exhibit the safest pharmacological profile are alfentanil, buprenorphine, fentanyl, ketamine, paracetamol (except with compound analgesics), remifentanil and sufentanil: none of these deliver a high active metabolite load, or suffer from significantly prolonged clearance. Amitriptyline, bupivacaine, clonidine, gabapentin, hydromorphone, levobupivacaine, lignocaine, methadone, mexiletine, morphine, oxycodone and tramadol have been used in the presence of renal failure, but do require specific precautions, usually dose reduction. Aspirin, dextropropoxyphene, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pethidine, should not be used in the presence of chronic renal failure due to the risk of significant toxicity.

In the presence of hepatic impairment, most drugs are subject to significantly impaired clearance and increased oral bioavailability, but are poorly studied in the clinical setting. The agent least subject to alteration in this context is remifentanil; however the drugs’ potency has other inherent dangers. Other agents must only be used with caution and close patient monitoring. Amitriptyline, carbamazepine and valproate should be avoided as the risk of fulminant hepatic failure is higher in this population, and methadone is contraindicated in the presence of severe liver disease.

Co-exposure to lead increases the renal response to low levels of cadmium in metallurgy workers

PURPOSE

Research on the effect of co-exposure to Cd and Pb on the kidney is scarce. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of co-exposure to these metals on biomarkers of early renal effect.

METHODS

Cd in blood (Cd-B), Cd in urine (Cd-U), Pb in blood (Pb-B) and urinary renal biomarkers, i.e., microalbumin (μ-Alb), beta-2-microglobulin (β₂-MG), retinol binding protein (RBP), N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG), intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) were measured in 122 metallurgic refinery workers examined in a cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The median Cd-B, Cd-U, Pb-B were: 0.8 μg/l (IQR = 0.5, 1.2), 0.5 μg/g creatinine (IQR = 0.3, 0.8) and 158.5 μg/l (IQR = 111.0, 219.3), respectively. The impact of Cd-B on the urinary excretion of NAG and IAP was only evident among workers with Pb-B concentrations ≥ 75th percentile. The association between Cd-U and the renal markers NAG and RBP was also evidenced when Pb-B ≥ 75th percentile. No statistically significant interaction terms were observed for the associations between Cd-B or Cd-U and the other renal markers under study (i.e., μ-Alb and β2-MG). Our findings indicate that Pb increases the impact of Cd exposure on early renal biomarkers.

Emergency orthogeriatrics: concepts and therapeutic alternatives

Multidisciplinary orthogeriatric care can enhance prompt ED diagnosis, optimal pre- and postoperative care, and functional recovery in older adults with bony injuries. Emergency care providers should be cognizant of prevalent geriatric syndromes including delirium and standing level falls to minimize fracture-related morbidity. Recognizing the implications of aging physiology, acute care physicians should be aware of effective alternatives to analgesia, procedural sedation, and definitive imaging to promote early surgical management and postoperative recovery.

Screening for gastrointestinal, hepatic/biliary, and renal/urologic disease

NARRATIVE REVIEW: Many organ systems in the body can demonstrate signs and symptoms of impairment that mimic integumentary, musculoskeletal, and/or neuromuscular conditions commonly evaluated and treated by the hand therapist. In this review, diseases and disorders affecting the gastrointestinal (GI), hepatic/biliary, and renal/urologic systems capable of referring pain and other symptoms to the upper quadrant are presented. Specifically, these organ systems can refer pain to the sternum, neck, shoulder, scapulae, and subscapular and interscapular regions. Symptom referral from the viscera to the elbow and hand is extremely rare. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome/paresthesias can occur in renal disorders and with hepatic/biliary problems. Following the screening model proposed by Goodman and Snyder, potential origins from the GI, hepatic/biliary, and renal/urologic systems are discussed. The goal is to identify patients with referred pain patterns and associated signs and symptoms of conditions that require referral to a physician or other appropriate health care professional. The alert hand therapist will recognize red flag histories, clinical presentation, and risk factors suggesting the need for a more thorough examination to ensure that the patient/client has a condition requiring intervention that is within the scope of the therapist's practice. Screening principles and tips for physician referral are offered.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5.

A structured literature review of pain assessment and management of patients with chronic kidney disease

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This paper reviews the literature concerning nurses' assessment and management of pain in adult patients with chronic kidney disease, and proposes implications for clinical practice to support the control of pain in these patients.

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide public health concern with increasing incidence and prevalence, poor patient outcomes and high cost. Patients with kidney disease often experience pain. Optimal pain assessment and management are key clinical activities; however, inadequate pain control by health professionals persists. Renal failure compounds this problem because of the small margin between pain relief and toxicity, and the patient's concomitant health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature review uses 93 articles that were published in medical- and other health-related journals, including 12 medical and pharmaceutical studies specifically relating to pain control in adults with kidney disease. Very little research has been conducted on pain in patients with kidney disease prior to requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation for survival. However, past research showed pain is common and analgesics are underprescribed in patients on dialysis in end-stage kidney disease. The review indicates that an interest in nephrotoxicity and analgesic-induced morbidity dominates over an interest in pain relief in patients with kidney disease. Most analgesics are excreted renally or by the liver, and the use of simple analgesics such as paracetamol is cautioned.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Findings from the literature review highlight specific difficulties relating to effective pain control in patients with chronic kidney disease. Research is required to identify and overcome barriers to effective pain management, including the development of specific tools to facilitate interventions that optimize analgesic outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Manejo del dolor del anciano en Atención Primaria (Estudio ADA)

OBJECTIVE

The main purpose of this study is to obtain information concerning type, clinical evaluation and therapeutic management of pain in elderly people in a Primary Care setting.

METHODOLOGY

Observational prospective study, conducted in the Primary Care setting in elderly patients, who were attended in the doctor's office with pain as main or secondary symptom. A total of 213 physicians and 1120 patients have participated in the study. Demographic data and clinical characteristics, pain intensity (as measured by Visual Analogical Scale -VAS-), diagnostic methods, treatments and sanitary resources used have been collected.

RESULTS

Pain was the main reason for visiting the physician in 86.2% of patients. The main characteristics of pain were: nociceptive pain (80.8%), lower limbs location (43.5%), degenerative etiology (71.8%) and chronic (67,7%). Pain intensity, as measured by VAS, was 7.1 +/- 1.3. Degree of satisfaction with previous analgesic treatments was good/very good in 30% of patients. The analgesics most frequently prescribed in this study were paracetamol (87.4%) and NSAID (51.2%).

DISCUSSION

Chronic nociceptive pain of degenerative etiology, and not very satisfactory response with previous treatments are the main characteristics of the elderly patient with pain that were attended by the Primary Care physician.

Systemic pharmacologic postoperative pain management in the geriatric orthopaedic patient

Although older adults have surgical procedures more frequently than any other group, they also experience the worst postoperative pain management. Among patients with orthopaedic disorders, this undertreatment of pain impacts postsurgical functional recovery and clinical outcomes. Recently adopted evidence-based pain management guidelines have improved care, but there still is significant room for improvement. We review standards for pain assessment in cognitively intact and impaired older adults, provide detailed guidelines for the pharmacologic treatment of postoperative pain in the orthopaedic geriatric patient, and review the stepwise approach to effective side-effect management in this population.

Cox-2 inhibitors and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of pain in the elderly

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly prescribed therapies for acute and chronic pain in the elderly. NSAIDs are effective in treating many disorders, but their use often is limited by toxicities, especially gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. COX-2 inhibitors are a major therapeutic advance, providing the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of NSAIDs, with a significant improvement in gastrointestinal safety. These new agents may be ideal therapies for older patients at risk for NSAID-related gastrointestinal toxicity.

The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor nimesulide induces conditioned place preference in rats

Two cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin and nimesulide, have been shown to potentiate morphine-induced stimulation of meso-accumbens dopamine neurons. In this study, an unbiased conditioned place preference procedure was used to evaluate whether nimesulide produces motivational effect after systemic administration in rats. These results show that nimesulide, at doses 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg, even lower than those usually applied for inflammatory conditions, induces conditioned place preference in rats, suggesting that it might possess rewarding properties in humans.