Pain Relief is an Essential Human Right”, We Should be Concerned about It

Evaluating the Effect of Duloxetine Premedication on Postoperative Analgesic Requirement in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of preoperative duloxetine on postoperative pain and total analgesic requirement in the postoperative period as the primary objective. The secondary objective was to evaluate the perioperative hemodynamic parameters, sedation scores, demographic data, and incidence of side effects (if any) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in a tertiary level medical college on 60 patients of either sex posted for laparoscopic cholecystectomies with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II. The patients were divided into 2 groups (n=30), the patients were given duloxetine 60 mg capsules and placebo capsules (Becosules) 2 hours before surgery.

RESULTS

The total requirement for both first and second rescue analgesics was higher in placebo as compared with duloxetine and was found to be significant ( P <0.05). The difference in mean visual analog scale score was significantly ( P <0.001) higher in placebo as compared with duloxetine at all-time intervals postoperatively 0 minute (7.6±0.7 vs. 4.6±0.8); 15 minutes (5.9±0.8 vs. 4.2±1.0); 30 minutes (4.4±0.5 vs. 3.6±0.9); 4 hours (6.6±0.06 vs. 5.3±1.3); 8 hours (5.2±1.2 vs. 3.9±1.0); and 12 hours (5.1±1.3 vs. 2.3±0.7). The mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were significantly higher in placebo compared with duloxetine in most of the time intervals in the perioperative period. There was no significant difference in the sedation score between the groups except the 30 minutes and 8 hours postoperative.

DISCUSSION

Preoperative oral duloxetine during laparoscopic cholecystectomy could reduce postoperative pain, postoperative analgesic requirements, and better optimization of hemodynamics without causing major side effects.

Ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block and intravenous fentanyl in pain management of the patients with hip fracture: a prospective, randomized, single blinded clinical trial

Aim

Proximal femoral fracture is a painful condition. Pain alleviation is a treatment cornerstone to both comfort the patient and reduce adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate and compare ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block and intravenous fentanyl administration in relieving the pain of patients with hip fractures.

Methods

The present interventional clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients referred to Shahid-Bahonar Hospital with unilateral isolated proximal femur fracture and American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: intravenous fentanyl and ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block for pain management. Pain severity was assessed by a numerical rating scale before and after the intervention in both groups and the groups were then compared.

Results

Forty patients were enrolled in to study; 27 (67.5%) were male. There was no significant difference in demographic variables between the two groups. Fourteen (35%) were older than 80 years. Pain significantly decreased three scores compared to the pre-intervention level in both groups (95% confidence interval, 2-4). This was slightly higher in the femoral nerve block group. The largest strength of association for age and numerical rating scale of pain was found in the differences between the pre-intervention and after-intervention in femoral nerve block group (r = -0.775, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

We found similar pain severity between the two groups. Considering the possible side effects of fentanyl, an ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block shows may provide safer pain control and may be particularly suitable for patients with opioid dependence.

Peripheral Nerve Block Versus Spinal Anesthesia for Total Knee Replacement in Elderly Patients

Introduction: Spinal anesthesia and peripheral nerve block anesthesia are used in total knee replacement. The main aim of the study was to examine whether peripheral nerve block anesthesia would provide a more stable hemodynamic profile and analgesic effect in elderly patients undergoing total knee replacement, as compared to spinal anesthesia.

Methods: This is a single-center case-control trial, with patients from our prospectively followed registry. The patients were divided into two groups, those with peripheral nerve block anesthesia and spinal anesthesia. Propensity score analysis was performed in 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was analgesia with total analgesic effect and the secondary outcome was intraoperative hemodynamic status.

Results: The patients in peripheral nerve block anesthesia group had a longer length of analgesia (606.19±219.35 vs 359.48±106.82, P<0.01) and pain scores during 24h and 48h after the surgery were lower in the same group of patients (3.21±1.74 vs 5.02±2.23, P=0.037; 3.03±1.57 vs 5.67±2.51, P=0.028). Spinal anesthesia group had a larger number of patients with significant hypotension (3.84% vs 15.38%, P=0.01), as well as a larger number of patients who received vasopressors (0% vs 9.61%, P<0.01).

Conclusion: Both anesthesia methods demonstrated sufficient analgesic efficacy in total knee replacement, although there was less pain severity and longer analgesic effect of peripheral nerve block anesthesia in patients who were 60 years old or older. Spinal anesthesia showed a significantly higher degree of hypotension than in those patients receivingperipheral nerve block anesthesia.

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia Scale (PAINAD-Sp) in Hospitalized Patients with Neurologic Disorders and Oncologic Patients Unable to Self-Report Their Pain

BACKGROUND

Pain has a significant impact on hospitalized patients and is a quality indicator for nursing care. The Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale measures pain in people with communication disorders and advanced dementia, but it has not been validated in any other population.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to validate the Spanish version (PAINAD-Sp) in hospitalized patients with neurologic disorders and in end-of-life cancer patients with difficulty self-reporting.

DESIGN

The study had two phases: (1) analysis of the content by a committee of experts and (2) a cross-sectional study.

SETTINGS

We collected phase 2 data from January 2017 to December 2017 in four hospitals in Barcelona: Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, and Hospital de Bellvitge.

PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS

We included all adults who had either a neurological disorder affecting language or an oncological disease with an end-of-life prognosis and difficulty self-reporting pain. We excluded patients with a diagnosis of dementia.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study included 325 patients who were simultaneously evaluated by two observers both at rest and in movement. We analyzed psychometric properties in terms of construct validity, reliability, and sensitivity to change.

RESULTS

We obtained Cronbach α > .70 in both situations and an inter-rater reliability of 0.80. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model adjusted adequately to a unidimensional structure. In terms of sensitivity to change, the mean difference was greater in movement than at rest (difference in means was 1.15).

CONCLUSIONS

The PAINAD-Sp_Hosp scale had good psychometric qualities in terms of validity and reliability in neurology and oncology patients unable to self-report pain.

Pain management of trauma patients in the emergency department: a study in a public hospital in Iran

BACKGROUND

Pain is a common problem which the patients in emergency departments (ED) face, especially trauma patients under treatment may suffer from physical, psychological and ethical issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate traumatic pain management in the emergency department at a public hospital in Iran in 2014.

METHODS

This observational prospective study was conducted on 450 trauma patients admitted to a trauma emergency department. The tool used in this study has three parts: demographic data, data of trauma, and VRS (Verbal Rating Scales) score at a 7-point scale-at the arrival time to 4h later. The statistical analysis was conducted by using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, repeated measures, survival analysis, and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS

The majority of the samples were male (83.3%) with the mean age of 35.2years. The patients mostly suffered from contusions and strains (42.4%). The majority of the patients [274 patients (60.8%)] received no intervention for pain relief and only 60 patients (13.3%) received analgesics. The mean time period of the first analgesic utilization was 41 (±20.4) minutes. Pain in admission, pain assessment, and receiving intervention could explain the 32% of pain reduction. No other variables such as age, sex, education, kind of trauma, and the shift of admission were involved in pain reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

This research study demonstrated that comprehensive, adequate pain management remains an obscure goal within the emergency nursing setting. There is a need to undertake further research and develop educational programs on effective analgesic practice in pain management.

Bioavailability of paracetamol with/without caffeine in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus

PURPOSE

This study investigates the involvement of liver dysfunction in the modulation of paracetamol pharmacokinetic profile in genotype-4 HCV patients treated with either paracetamol alone (Para) or in combination with caffeine (Para-Caf).

METHODS

Twenty healthy volunteers and 20 Child-Pugh B HCV patients, each divided into two equal subgroups, were examined, whose liver/kidney functions were correlated with their main clinical manifestation. After an overnight fasting, healthy and hepatic subjects received either a single dose of Para (1000 mg paracetamol) or Para-Caf (1000 mg paracetamol/130 mg caffeine). Two milliliters of saliva samples were collected prior to and at different time-intervals after drug administration and analyzed using HPLC.

RESULTS

There was a noticeable increase in the mean concentration time profile of salivary paracetamol concentrations in hepatic patients, with concomitant decrease in paracetamol clearance (CLT), along with induction in the primary pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters, C max, AUC(0-8 h) and AUC(0-∞) (by about 95, 82, and 64 %, respectively, after treatment with Para, and 98, 96, and 101 %, respectively, after treatment with Para-Caf), when compared with the corresponding parameters in healthy subjects. Additionally, the healthy subjects treated with Para-Caf exhibited bioinequivalent increase in C max, K a, and t 1/2 with decrease in T max when compared with the healthy individuals treated with Para alone. A similar pattern was recorded in hepatic patients after addition of caffeine to paracetamol, with even augmented significant increase in K a and t 1/2 (by 100 and 32 %, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver dysfunction modified the PK of paracetamol expressed as earlier effective paracetamol concentration, with obvious decrease in its clearance. Caffeine induced faster absorption (evidenced by shorter T max and higher K a) and prolonged t 1/2 of paracetamol, the effects that were more profound in hepatic patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate the influence of liver damage on paracetamol pharmacokinetics whenever repeated dosing is applied, to avoid possible drug accumulation.

The therapeutic use of analgesics in patients with liver cirrhosis: a literature review and evidence-based recommendations

CONTEXT

Pain management in cirrhotic patients is a major clinical challenge for medical professionals. Unfortunately there are no concrete guidelines available regarding the administration of analgesics in patients with liver cirrhosis. In this review we aimed to summarize the available literature and suggest appropriate evidence-based recommendations regarding to administration of these drugs.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

An indexed MEDLINE search was conducted in July 2014, using keywords "analgesics", "hepatic impairment", "cirrhosis", "acetaminophen or paracetamol", "NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs", "opioid" for the period of 2004 to 2014. All randomized clinical trials, case series, case report and meta-analysis studies with the above mentioned contents were included in review process. In addition, unpublished information from the Food and Drug Administration are included as well.

RESULTS

Paracetamol is safe in patients with chronic liver disease but a reduced dose of 2-3 g/d is recommended for long-term use. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are best avoided because of risk of renal impairment, hepatorenal syndrome, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Most opioids can have deleterious effects in patients with cirrhosis. They have an increased risk of toxicity and hepatic encephalopathy. They should be administrated with lower and less frequent dosing in these patients and be avoided in patients with a history of encephalopathy or addiction to any substance.

CONCLUSIONS

No evidence-based guidelines exist on the use of analgesics in patients with liver disease and cirrhosis. As a result pain management in these patients generates considerable misconception among health care professionals, leading under-treatment of pain in this population. Providing concrete guidelines toward the administration of these agents will lead to more efficient and safer pain management in this setting.

Lumbar plexus block for management of hip surgeries

Background:

Lumbar plexus block (LPB) is one of the anesthetic options in the elderly patients undergoing hip surgeries. LPB could be safe because it targets somatic nerve in psoas region. Effectiveness of LPB is attributed to the sufficient analgesia provided intraoperatively as well as postoperatively. Adequate muscle relaxation and immobility during surgery refers to its acceptability.

Objectives:

In this study, LPB was used as the anesthetic method to manage the elderly patients subjected to hip surgery.

Patients and Methods:

A total of 50 patients aged 51 to 100 years were enrolled in this study. LPB was accomplished after a mild sedation and with a modified method using patient's fingertip width (FTW) as the distance unit to determine needle entry point under electrical nerve stimulation assistance. After targeted injection, procedure time, establishment time, block duration, surgery time, hemodynamic variables, and surgeon satisfaction score were documented and analyzed. Propofol in trivial doses was infused intraoperatively to provide clinical sedation.

Results:

Mean patient's age was 73 ± 12 years with ASA II/III. Procedure time was 5.65 ± 1.24 minutes, establishment time was 130 ± 36 seconds, block duration was 13.1 ± 8 hours, surgery time was 149.7 ± 32.2 minutes, and surgeon satisfaction score was 9.8 ± 0.1. There was no complication and no failure. Hemodynamic stability was pleasantly achieved.

Conclusions:

By preserving hemodynamic stability, LPB in conjunction with a light sedation could be considered as a reliable prudent satisfying anesthetic option in management of hip fractures in the elderly patients with three beneficial characteristics of safety, effectiveness, and acceptability.

Effects of preoperative use of oral dextromethorphan on postoperative need for analgesics in patients with knee arthroscopy

Background

Studies have shown that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMIDA) plays an essential role in postoperative pain. It seems that use of NMDA receptor antagonists such as Dextromethorphan intensifies the analgesic effects of opioids.

Objectives

In this study, we evaluated the effect of preoperative administration of Dextromethorphan on postoperative pain reduction.

Patients and Methods

This double blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on arthroscopic surgery candidates. Participants were randomly allocated to interventions and assigned to two groups of Dextromethorphan and placebo. In Dextromethorphan group, the patients received 1 mg/kg Dextromethorphan orally the night before the operation. Pain severity based on the visual analog scale (VAS) up to 16 hours postoperation, use of opioids, and the first request for analgesics were recorded postoperatively.

Results

A total of 112 patients in the Dextromethorphan (n = 54) and placebo groups (n = 58) were evaluated. No significant difference was detected between the two groups for age, sex or ASA. The mean amount of opioid consumption was significantly lower in patients who received Dextromethorphan (10.7 ± 5.6 mg) compared to the placebo group (13.1 ± 5.6 mg), (P = 0.03). The mean time until the first opioid request in patients who received Dextromethorphan was longer than that in the placebo group (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

The study results demonstrated that preemptive use of Dextromethorphan reduced postoperative pain and opioid consumption.

Pain location and intensity during the first week following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

BACKGROUND

Despite the advances in pain control following surgery, data on the location and distribution of pain following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

This study was intended to investigate the location, distribution, and intensity of pain in patients undergoing CABG during their postoperative hospital stay from the operation to the end of the first postoperative week. Factors that could affect pain intensity and distribution were analyzed as well.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted on 138 patients who underwent CABG surgery at Rajaei cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center during May and July 2011. Location and intensity of pain were assessed using numeric rating scale (NRS) over time: every six hours after the operation on the first day (T1-T4, respectively), and on two (POD2), three (POD3), and seven days after the operation (POD7).

RESULTS

Among 138 patients assessed in the study, the greatest severity of pain was reported on T2, with the mean severity of 3.4, followed by POD2 with the mean severity of 2.9 (P < 0.01). The location of the surgical incision had the most severity of pain in all patients (P < 0.01). On the site of surgical incision, a negative correlation was seen between the age and the severity of pain on T1 (P = 0.03, r = -0.180). Women experienced more severe pain compared to men at POD7. A significant correlation was seen between the severity of pain on POD7 and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.01, r = 0.23). In patients who had the longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CBD), the most pain intensity was reported on T1 (P < 0.01, r = 0.18). A significant correlation was seen on the pain intensity on T4 and chest tube drainage (P < 0.01, r = 0.24). The correlation between the pain severity pain and duration of admission in intensive care unit (ICU), was significant on T1 (P < 0.05, r = 0.18), T4 (P < 0.01, r = 0.29), POD2 (P < 0.01, r = 0.35) and POD7 (P < 0.05, r = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Following CABG, the most severity of pain was reported at surgical incision on time T2. Pain began to decrease from the third day following the operation. Age, sex and BMI along with operation-related factors such as duration of CBP or chest tube drainage may affect the pain pattern following CABG surgery.

Analgesic Efficacy of Diclofenac and Paracetamol vs. Meperidine in Cesarean Section

Background:

One of the most important complications in cesarean surgery is postoperative pain, and different ways have been proposed to control it.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Diclofenac and Paracetamol combination in comparison with Meperidine on postoperative pain after cesarean surgery.

Patients and Methods:

One hundred and twenty women candidates for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia categorized as ASA class I were selected and randomly assigned to receive either Diclofenac suppository at the end of the operation and thereafter 1 gram infused bolus of Paracetamol (group A), or 20 mg bolus of Meperidine after transition to recovery room (group B) to control postoperative pain.

Results:

Postoperative pain was present in recovery in 38.3% and 23.3% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.009). Postoperative pain was seen after six hours of operation in 38.7% and 16.7% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.010). Postoperative pain was present after 12 hours of operation in 38.3% and 15% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.002). The additive Meperidine use was the same between the two groups in recovery (P > 0.05). The additive Meperidine use was seen after six hours of operation in 26.7% and 6.7% in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.013). The additive Meperidine use was seen after 12 hours of operation in 16.7% and none of the patients in groups B and A, respectively (P = 0.004). The frequency of drug adverse effects was the same between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Totally, according to the obtained results it may be concluded that Paracetamol and Diclofenac combination would have a better efficacy in postoperative pain control and need reduction to additive analgesia compared to Meperidine.

Unusually prolonged motor and sensory block following single injection ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block with bupivacaine and dexamethasone

We present a case of unexpectedly prolonged motor and sensory block following a successful single injection ultrasound - guided infraclavicular block with bupivacaine (0.25%) and dexamethasone (8 mg). ultrasound guidance and safety measurement such as injection of the local anaesthetic at a slow rate and verifying that usual resistance was felt throughout the injection, has been applied. It took 42 hours for the block to go away. Although there was no evidence of neurologic injury but we should always be prepared to consider the possibility of nerve injury and take appropriate measures.

Intravenous paracetamol for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Although opioids are the main choice for acute postoperative pain control, many side effects have been reported for them. NSAIDs and paracetamol have been used extensively as alternatives, and it seems that they are more effective for minor to moderate pain control postoperatively when have been used alone or in combination with opioids. As laparoscopic cholecystectomy poses moderate pain postoperatively, this study was planned to assess whether paracetamol is able to provide effective analgesia as a sole analgesic at least in the first few hours post operatively.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effect of intravenous Paracetamol on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a randomized double- blind clinical trial study. 30 patients ASA class I, aged 18 to 50 years, candidate for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were recruited, and randomly divided into two equal groups. Group A (paracetamol group) received 1 gr paracetamol and group B received placebo ten minutes after the induction of anesthesia. 0.1 mg/Kg Morphine was administered intravenously based on patients compliant and pain score >3. Pain score and the opioids consumption were recorded in the first six hours postoperative. Patient's pain was measured by the VAS (Visual Analog Scale).

RESULTS

The pain score was lower in group A (P= 0.01), but the morphine consumption showed no significant difference between the groups (P= 0.24) during the first 6 hours postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although paracetamol (1gr) has caused a better pain relief quality but it is not a suitable analgesic for moderate pain control in acute phase after surgery alone.

Does changes in the electrical resistance of an acupuncture meridian predict pain intensity following orthopedic surgery?

Background

Several methods for assessment of severity of pain have been proposed but all of them are subjective.

Objectives

This study evaluated the association concerning changes in electrical resistance (ER) between two acupuncture points and severity of postoperative pain in order to define an objective measurement of pain.

Patients and Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 50 patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery with postoperative moderate to severe pain (VAS > 4,) were consecutively enrolled. In the recovery room, the patients' pain scores were assessed and in patients with VAS > 4, the electrical resistance between Li4 and Li11 acupuncture points as well as pain scores was measured prior and following analgesic administration.

Results

Following meperidine use, the mean VAS significantly decreased and the ER between the two acupoints was significantly increased. However, Pearson correlation analysis did not reveal any association between the trends of pain intensity and ER (P > 0.05). The ER change in patients operated under epidural anesthesia was significantly less than those who experienced general or spinal anesthesia.

Conclusions

There is a coincidence of pain relief and change in the ER of acupuncture meridians without significant association. The diagnostic value of ER for pain, stress response or any other physiologic outcome needs to be investigated in clinical trials with a well-defined control group, with more accurate instruments and probably in different acupuncture meridians.