Analgesic Regimen (analgesic + regimen)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Adding Gabapentin to a multimodal regimen does not reduce acute pain, opioid consumption or chronic pain after total hip arthroplasty

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 8 2009
H. CLARKE
Background: Gabapentin (GPN) is effective in reducing post-operative pain and opioid consumption, but its effects with regional anesthesia for total hip arthroplasty (THA) are not known. We designed this study to determine whether (1) gabapentin administration reduces pain and opioid use after THA using a multimodal analgesic regimen including spinal anesthesia; (2) pre-operative administration of gabapentin is more effective than post-operative administration. Methods: After REB approval and informed consent, 126 patients were enrolled in a double-blinded, randomized-controlled study. Patients received acetaminophen 1 g per os (p.o.), celecoxib 400 mg p.o. and dexamethasone 8 mg intravenously, 1,2 h pre-operatively. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups (G1: Placebo/Placebo; G2: GPN/Placebo; G3: Placebo/GPN). Patients received gabapentin 600 mg (G2) or placebo (G1 and G3) 2 h before surgery. All patients had spinal anesthesia [15 mg (3cc) of 0.5% hypobaric bupivacaine with 10 ,g of fentanyl]. In the post-anesthetic care unit, patients received gabapentin 600 mg (G3) or placebo (G1 and G2). On the ward, patients received acetaminophen 1000 mg p.o. q6h, celecoxib 200 mg p.o. q12h and a morphine PCA device. Patients were interviewed 6 months post-surgery to determine the incidence and severity of chronic post-surgical pain. Results: Mean±SD cumulative morphine (mg) consumption (G1=49.4±24.8, G2=47.2±30.1 and G3=56.1±38.2) at 48 h and pain scores at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h post-surgery were not significantly different among the groups [G1 (n=38), G2 (n=38) and G3 (n=38)]. Side effect profiles were similar across groups. Six months after surgery, the number of patients who reported chronic post-surgical pain (G1=10, G2=12 and G3=9) and the severity of the pain (G1=4.2±2.9, G2=4.1±2.2 and G3=4.9±2.2) did not differ significantly among the groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: A single 600 mg dose of gabapentin given pre-operatively or post-operatively does not reduce morphine consumption or pain scores in hospital or at 6 months after hip arthroplasty within the context of spinal anesthesia and a robust multimodal analgesia regimen. [source]


Continuous femoral nerve block after total knee arthroplasty?

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 7 2009
L. KADIC
Background: A continuous femoral nerve block is frequently used as an adjunct therapy after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there is still debate on its benefits. Methods: In this prospective, randomized study, patients received a basic analgesic regimen of paracetamol and dicloflenac for the first 48 h postoperatively. In addition, the study group received a continuous femoral nerve block. A morphine patient-controlled analgesia pump was also available as a rescue analgesic to all the patients. Patients' numeric rating scores for pain, the amount of morphine consumed and its side effects during the first 48 h were recorded. Knee flexion angles achieved during the first week were registered. Three months postoperatively, patients completed Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Knee Society Score. Results: The study group (n=27) had less pain (P=0.0016) during the first 48 h, was more satisfied with the analgesia (P<0.001) and used less morphine (P=0.007) compared with the control group (n=26). Fewer patients were nauseated, vomited or were drowsy in the study group (P=0.001). Also, the study group achieved better knee flexion in the first 6 days after surgery (P=0.001), with more patients reaching 90° flexion than the control group. However, after 3 months, there were no significant functional differences between the groups. Conclusion: A continuous femoral nerve block leads to better analgesia, less morphine consumption and less morphine-related side effects after TKA. Early functional recovery is improved, resulting in more patients reaching 90° knee flexion after 6 days. However, after 3 months, no significant functional benefits were found. [source]


The Danish version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale: Preliminary Validation in Cancer Pain Patients

PAIN PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009
Ramune Jacobsen MS
Abstract Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Danish version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (DMARS-4) adapted to measure adherence to analgesic regimen among cancer patients. Methods: The validated English version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale was translated into Danish following the repeated back-translation procedure. Cancer patients for the study were recruited from specialized pain management facilities. Thirty-three patients responded to the DMARS-4, the Danish Barriers Questionnaire II, The Danish version of Patient Perceived Involvement in Care Scale measuring the quality of patient-physician pain communication, and the Danish Brief Pain Inventory pain severity scale. Results: A factor analysis of the DMARS-4 resulted in one factor. Mean (SD) score on the cumulative scale ranging from 4 to 20, with higher scores indicating better medication adherence, was 17.8 (0.42). The DMARS-4 scores were related to the measures of patients' concerns about pain management and patients' pain communication. The internal consistency of the DMARS-4 was 0.70. Conclusions: The DMARS-4 seems to be a valid and reliable measure of self-reported adherence to analgesic regimen in the context of cancer pain. [source]


Sequential clot strength analyses following diclofenac in pediatric adenotonsillectomy

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 11 2007
MAIREAD HEANEY FCARCSI FJFICM
Summary Background:, Tonsillectomy is a common pediatric surgical procedure resulting in significant postoperative pain. There is ongoing controversy as to the most satisfactory analgesic regimen. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an alternative to opioids in this setting. NSAID use in tonsillectomy has been shown to be opioid sparing in the recovery period and to have similar analgesic effects to opioids in pediatric patients. Because of their nonspecific action on the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase there is potential for increased bleeding which has led many practitioners to avoid NSAIDs completely in this patient population potentially resulting in suboptimal pain control. Our aim in this study was to assess the effect of preoperatively administered diclofenac on the blood clot strength in children undergoing (adeno-) tonsillectomy. Methods:, Twenty patients undergoing (adeno-) tonsillectomy were recruited into this prospective observational study. All patients received 2 mg·kg,1 of diclofenac rectally immediately preoperatively. Blood was taken for thromboelastograph analysis pre-diclofenac and 1 and 4 h post-diclofenac administration. Results:, There was a statistically significant increase in maximal clot strength (MA) at 1 and 4 h after diclofenac. Similarly there was a statistically significant reduction in time to initial fibrin formation (R time) post-diclofenac. There was no primary or secondary hemorrhage. Conclusions:, Diclofenac when given preoperatively does not adversely affect clot strength in the immediate postoperative period when the risk of primary hemorrhage is greatest. [source]


Analgesia for paediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy with intramuscular clonidine

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 7 2002
Katherine O. Freeman MD
SummaryBackground: After undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A), children may experience significant pain. Clonidine, an ,2 agonist, exhibits significant analgesic properties. The current investigation sought to determine whether intramuscular (I.M.) clonidine would decrease pain in paediatric patients undergoing T&A. Methods: Thirty-nine children undergoing elective T&A were studied. Following inhalational anaesthetic induction, fentanyl (2 ,g·kg,1) was given intravenously, acetaminophen (paracetamol) (30 mg·kg,1) was given rectally and the children then randomly received an i.m. injection of either normal saline or clonidine (2,g·kg,1). Perioperative analgesic requirements in the postanaesthesia care unit and at home following hospital discharge were evaluated. Results: There were no significant demographic, analgesic consumption, haemodynamic or pain score differences between the groups. Conclusions: We do not recommend adding i.m. clonidine (2 ,g·kg,1) to the analgesic regimen of children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. [source]


Introduction of an enhanced recovery protocol for radical cystectomy

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2008
Nimalan Arumainayagam
OBJECTIVE To describe and assess an enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) for the peri-operative management of patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC), which was started at our institution on 1 October 2005, as RC is associated with increased morbidity and longer inpatient stays than other major urological procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS An ERP was introduced in our institution that focused on reduced bowel preparation, and standardized feeding and analgesic regimens. In all, 112 consecutive patients were compared, i.e. 56 before implementing the ERP and 56 since introducing the ERP. The primary outcome measures were duration of total inpatient stay and interval from surgery to discharge, and the morbidity and mortality. Data were analysed retrospectively from cancer network and hospital records. RESULTS The demographics of the two groups showed no significant difference in age, gender distribution, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, or type of urinary diversion. Re-admission, mortality and morbidity rates showed no statistically significant difference between the groups. The median (interquartile range) duration of hospital stay was 17 (15,23) days in the no-ERP group, and 13 (11,17) days in the ERP group (significantly different, P < 0.001, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). The median duration of recovery after RC was 15 (13,21) days in the no-ERP group and 12 (10,15) days in the ERP group (significantly different, P = 0.001, Wilcoxon rank-sum test). CONCLUSION The introduction of an ERP was associated with significantly reduced hospital stay, with no deleterious effect on morbidity or mortality. [source]