Magnifying endoscopic observation of the gastric mucosa, particularly in patients with atrophic gastritis

Postoperative Recovery with Bispectral Index versus Anesthetic Concentration–guided Protocols

Background:

Use of the bispectral index (BIS) monitor has been suggested to decrease excessive anesthetic drug administration, leading to improved recovery from general anesthesia. The purpose of this substudy of the B-Unawareand BAG-RECALL trials was to assess whether a BIS-based anesthetic protocol was superior to an end-tidal anesthetic concentration–based protocol in decreasing recovery time and postoperative complications.

Methods:

Patients at high risk for awareness were randomized to either BIS-guided or end-tidal anesthetic concentration–guided general anesthesia in the original trials. Outcomes included time to postanesthesia care unit discharge readiness, time to achieve a postoperative Aldrete score of 9–10, intensive care unit length of stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and severe postoperative pain. Univariate Cox regression and chi-square tests were used for statistical analyses.

Results:

The BIS cohort was not superior in time to postanesthesia care unit discharge readiness (hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% CI, 1.0–1.1; n = 2,949), time to achieve an Aldrete score of 9–10 (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0–1.4; n = 706), intensive care unit length of stay (hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.9–1.1; n = 2,074), incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (absolute risk reduction, −0.5%; 95% CI, −5.8 to 4.8%; n = 789), or incidence of severe postoperative pain (absolute risk reduction, 4.4%; 95% CI, −2.3 to 11.1%; n = 759).

Conclusions:

In patients at high risk for awareness, the BIS-guided protocol is not superior to an anesthetic concentration–guided protocol in time needed for postoperative recovery or in the incidences of common postoperative complications.

Gender, variation in opioid receptor genes and sensitivity to experimental pain

Background

Pain tolerance is subject to considerable inter-individual variation, which may be influenced by a number of genetic and non-genetic factors. The mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors play a role in pain perception and are thought to mediate different pain modalities. The aim of this study was to explore associations between pain thresholds and gender and genetic variants in the three opioid receptor genes (OPRM, OPRD and OPRK). Experimental multi-modal pain data from previously published studies carried out in healthy Caucasian volunteers were used in order to limit the number of confounders to the study outcome. Data on thermal skin pain (n=36), muscle pressure pain (n=31) and mechanical visceral pain (n=50)) tolerance thresholds were included.

Results

Nineteen genetic polymorphisms were included in linear regression modeling. Males were found to tolerate higher thermal and muscle pressure pain than females (p=0.003 and 0.02). Thirty four percent of variability in thermal skin pain was accounted for by a model consisting of OPRK rs6473799 and gender. This finding was just outside significance when correction for multiple testing was applied. Variability in muscle pressure pain tolerance was associated with OPRK rs7016778 and rs7824175. These SNPs accounted for 43% of variability in muscle pressure pain sensitivity and these findings remained significant after adjustment for multiple testing. No association was found with mechanical visceral pain.

Conclusion

This is a preliminary and hypothesis generating study due to the relatively small study size. However, significant association between the opioid receptor genes and experimental pain sensitivity supports the influence of genetic variability in pain perception. These findings may be used to generate hypotheses for testing in larger clinical trials of patients with painful conditions.

Natural variation in the μ-opioid gene OPRM1 predicts increased pain on third day after thoracotomy

OBJECTIVES

The mechanism whereby acute postsurgical pain can persist and become chronic remains unknown. Thoracotomy is a common procedure with a high incidence of long-term pain for which acute postsurgical pain is an established risk factor. Therefore, the genetic basis of elevations in acute postsurgical pain after thoracotomy was investigated.

METHODS

A cohort of thoracotomy patients participating in an ongoing trial of outcomes after cancer were enrolled. A standard combined general and epidural anesthetic and surgical approach were used. All patients received a standardized postoperative epidural analgesia regimen. Postoperatively, pain scores were determined and blood was collected for genotyping. Our a priori hypothesis was that variability of genes involved in nociception and analgesic therapy would predict pain score ≥3 of 10 on the third postoperative day.

RESULTS

Ninety patients with pain and genotyping data on postoperative day 3 were examined. We found no association between markers in COMT, COX1, COX2, and TRPV1 and postoperative pain. We demonstrated several statistically significant associations with 4 single nucleotide polymorphism markers in OPRM1 (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals): rs634479 (0.4, 0.17, 0.97), rs499796 (0.35, 0.13, 0.92), rs548646 (0.47, 0.23, 0.97), and rs679987 (0.1, 0.01, 0.84). From these, we inferred 2 haplotype blocks in OPRM1 where both had a frequency of 9% and P=0.03 and 0.04. Previously published functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in OPRM1 and COMT were not associated with increased pain on the third postoperative day.

DISCUSSION

We identified previously unpublished haplotypes of the OPRM1 receptor that predicted increases in self-reported pain on the third postoperative day after thoracotomy. These findings require replication and further refinement before their impact on patient care can be determined.

A Double-blind Randomized Trial of Wound and Intercostal Space Infiltration with Ropivacaine during Breast Cancer Surgery

Background:

The efficacy of local anesthetic wound infiltration for the treatment of acute and chronic postoperative pain is controversial and there are no detailed studies. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ropivacaine wound infiltration on chronic pain after breast surgery.

Methods:

In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study, 236 patients scheduled for breast cancer surgery were randomized (1:1) to receive ropivacaine or placebo infiltration of the wound, the second and third intercostal spaces and the humeral insertion of major pectoralis. Acute pain, analgesic consumption, nausea and vomiting were assessed every 30 min for 2 h in the postanesthesia care unit and every 6 h for 48 h. Chronic pain was evaluated 3 months, 6 months, and 1 yr after surgery by the brief pain inventory, hospital anxiety and depression, and neuropathic pain questionnaires.

Results:

Ropivacaine wound infiltration significantly decreased immediate postoperative pain for the first 90 min, but did not decrease chronic pain at 3 months (primary endpoint), or at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. At 3 months, the incidence of chronic pain was 33% and 27% (P = 0.37) in the ropivacaine and placebo groups, respectively. During follow-up, brief pain inventory, neuropathic pain, and anxiety increased over time in both groups (P < 0.001) while depression remained stable. No complications occurred.

Conclusion:

This multicenter, prospective study shows that ropivacaine wound infiltration after breast cancer surgery decreased immediate postoperative pain but did not decrease chronic pain at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

The evolution and practice of acute pain medicine

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the field of acute pain medicine (APM) has witnessed a surge in its development, and pain has begun to be recognized not merely as a symptom, but as an actual disease process. This development warrants increased education of residents both in the performance of regional anesthesia as well as in the disease course of acute pain and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that define interindividual variability.

REVIEW SUMMARY

We reviewed the organization and function of the modern APM program. Following a discussion of the nomenclature of acute pain-related practices, we discuss the historical evolution and modern role of APM teams, including the use of traditional, as well as complementary and alternative, therapies for treating acute pain. Staffing and equipment requirements are also evaluated, in addition to the training requirements for achieving expertise in APM. Lastly, we briefly explore future considerations related to the essential role and development of APM.

CONCLUSION

The scope and practice of APM must be expanded to include pre-pain/pre-intervention risk stratification and extended through the phase of subacute pain.

Acupuncture on Yintang point decreases preoperative anxiety

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ear-press needle acupuncture on Yintang point for preoperative anxiety.

DESIGN

This was a prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled study.

SETTINGS/LOCATION

The study setting was the Department of Anesthesiology in Ankara Training and Research Hospital of Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey.

SUBJECTS

The study comprised 52 adult surgical patients.

INTERVENTIONS

A single, 20-minute session of single-point acupuncture was applied on Yintang (acupuncture group) or sham point (sham acupuncture group).

OUTCOME MEASURES

The efficacy of acupuncture was evaluated by means of the changes in bispectral index (BIS) and STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Index).

RESULTS

BIS values in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than in the sham group in all time intervals (p<0.0042). BIS values were lower than baseline in the study group during the entire study period (p<0.0004) while no such effect has been observed in the sham group (p>0.0004). Mean values of state anxiety (STAI-S) decreased after acupuncture in the study group (p=0,018), while no change was observed in trait anxiety (STAI-T) (p=0.156). Patients of the sham group showed no change in both parameters (p=0.387 and p=0,116).

CONCLUSIONS

Ear-press needle acupuncture on Yintang point reduces preoperative anxiety in adult surgical patients.

Persistent pain in postmastectomy patients: comparison of psychophysical, medical, surgical, and psychosocial characteristics between patients with and without pain

Persistent postmastectomy pain (PPMP) is a major individual and public health problem. Increasingly, psychosocial factors such as anxiety and catastrophizing are being revealed as crucial contributors to individual differences in pain processing and outcomes. Furthermore, differences in patients' responses to standardized quantitative sensory testing (QST) may aid in the discernment of who is at risk for acute and chronic pain after surgery. However, characterization of the variables that differentiate those with PPMP from those whose acute postoperative pain resolves is currently incomplete. The purpose of this study was to investigate important surgical, treatment-related, demographic, psychophysical, and psychosocial factors associated with PPMP by comparing PPMP cases with PPMP-free controls. Pain was assessed using the breast cancer pain questionnaire to determine the presence and extent of PPMP. Psychosocial and demographic information were gathered via phone interview, and women underwent a QST session. Consistent with most prior research, surgical and disease-related variables did not differ significantly between cases and controls. Furthermore, treatment with radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy was also not more common among those with PPMP. In contrast, women with PPMP did show elevated levels of distress-related psychosocial factors such as anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, and somatization. Finally, QST in nonsurgical body areas revealed increased sensitivity to mechanical stimulation among PPMP cases, while thermal pain responses were not different between the groups. These findings suggest that an individual's psychophysical and psychosocial profile may be more strongly related to PPMP than their surgical treatment.

Evaluation of experimental pain tests to predict labour pain and epidural analgesic consumption

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine whether experimental pain tests (EPTs) using heat, pressure, and i.v. cannulation before induction of labour reliably predict epidural analgesic use and pain intensity during labour.

METHODS

Fifty healthy women with singleton, term pregnancies admitted for scheduled induction of labour comprised the study population for this prospective case-controlled study. Heat and pressure threshold, tolerance, and suprathreshold VAS pain ratings were determined using a Medoc thermal sensory analyser and Somedic pressure algometer, respectively, after admission before induction of labour. Verbal pain scores (VPS 0-10) were determined during peripheral 18 G i.v. placement. Response outcomes included time to epidural request, pain at epidural, labour pain [area under the curve (AUC) and worse score], and epidural local anaesthetic use. Bivariate analysis followed by forward-backward multiple regression modelling was performed to determine relationships between EPTs and labour pain response measures.

RESULTS

Heat tolerance was significantly correlated with worst labour pain (r=0.33, P=0.025) and pain with i.v. cannulation was correlated with time to epidural request (r=0.33, P=0.025). Multiple linear regression analysis found that labour pain AUC could be predicted with suprathreshold heat VAS, heat tolerance, and pressure tolerance (R(2)=0.26; P=0.007). There were strong correlations among the various pre-labour QSTs.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-labour EPTs were not very reliable at predicting the labour pain experience. Consistent with postoperative studies, suprathreshold and tolerance tests appear more useful than the threshold for predicting labour pain responses. Pain rating during i.v. cannulation (an easy, rapid, point-of-care test) showed some utility as an EPT.

Utilisation of search filters in systematic reviews of prognosis questions

BACKGROUND

Search filters are designed to increase efficiency of information retrieval and can be particularly useful in limiting the large numbers of articles retrieved for systematic reviews (SRs). Existing published prognosis search filters (or hedges) have lower sensitivity and precision values than their therapy counterparts.

OBJECTIVES

Taking into account the relatively poor performance of prognosis filters, this study seeks to identify which methods of limiting search results to prognostic studies are most often used by SR teams.

METHODS

One hundred and three SRs of prognostic studies published in 2009 and indexed in MEDLINE were retrieved. Each review's search strategy was reviewed and prognosis-related search terms were extracted.

RESULTS

Forty-seven of 103 studies used prognosis-related terms to limit the search. Six SRs of 103 did not specify their search terms, and the remaining 50 SRs used content terms only (no terms related to methodology or prognosis). Of the 47 strategies using prognosis-related terms, only six used a published filter. Many SRs used few or poorly selected prognosis-related search terms which are unlikely to provide the sensitivity generally sought for SRs.

CONCLUSIONS

Published prognosis search filters are used in only a small minority of prognosis SRs.

Room for improvement: unmet needs in postoperative pain management

Postoperative pain treatment is an important healthcare issue. However, the management of pain in patients after surgery remains insufficient. In the present review, several key areas important for postoperative pain management are discussed. New findings about efficacy and side effects of nonopioid analgesics, such as paracetamol, NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors, are presented and discussed in light of acute, short-term application in the perioperative period. Second, new findings about postoperative pain management in patients with preoperative pain and chronic opioid consumption are reported. Third, feasibility of the transversus abdominal plane block as a new and promising regional anesthesia technique is discussed. Finally, potential predictors, mechanisms and preventive treatment strategies of persistent chronic pain after surgery are presented.

Chronic preoperative pain and psychological robustness predict acute postoperative pain outcomes after surgery for breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Few epidemiological studies have prospectively investigated preoperative and surgical risk factors for acute postoperative pain after surgery for breast cancer. We investigated demographic, psychological, pain-related and surgical risk factors in women undergoing resectional surgery for breast cancer.

METHODS

Primary outcomes were pain severity, at rest (PAR) and movement-evoked pain (MEP), in the first postoperative week.

RESULTS

In 338 women undergoing surgery, those with chronic preoperative pain were three times more likely to report moderate to severe MEP after breast cancer surgery (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.45-6.99). Increased psychological 'robustness', a composite variable representing positive affect and dispositional optimism, was associated with lower intensity acute postoperative PAR (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.48-0.82) and MEP (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.93). Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and intraoperative nerve division were associated with reduced postoperative pain. No relationship was found between preoperative neuropathic pain and acute pain outcomes; altered sensations and numbness postoperatively were more common after axillary sample or clearance compared with SLNB.

CONCLUSION

Chronic preoperative pain, axillary surgery and psychological robustness significantly predicted acute pain outcomes after surgery for breast cancer. Preoperative identification and targeted intervention of subgroups at risk could enhance the recovery trajectory in cancer survivors.

Primary payer status is associated with the use of nerve block placement for ambulatory orthopedic surgery

INTRODUCTION

Although more than 30 million patients in the United States undergo ambulatory surgery each year, it remains unclear what percentage of these patients receive a perioperative nerve block. We reviewed data from the 2006 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery to determine the demographic, socioeconomic, geographic, and clinical factors associated with the likelihood of nerve block placement for ambulatory orthopedic surgery. The primary outcome of interest was the association between primary method of payment and likelihood of nerve block placement. In addition, we examined the association between type of surgical procedures, patient demographics, and hospital characteristics with the likelihood of receiving a nerve block.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study reviewed 6000 orthopedic anesthetics from the 2006 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery data set, which accounted for more than 3.9 million orthopedic anesthetics when weighted. The primary outcome of this study addressed the likelihood of receiving a nerve block for orthopedic ambulatory surgery according to the patient's primary method of payment. Secondary end points included differences in demographics, surgical procedures, adverse effects, complications, recovery profile, anesthesia staffing model, and total perioperative charges in those with and without nerve block.

RESULTS

Overall, 14.9% of anesthetics in this sample involved a peripheral nerve block. Length of time in postoperative recovery, total perioperative time, and total charges were less for those receiving nerve blocks. Patients were more likely to receive a nerve block if their procedures were performed in metropolitan service areas (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-2.91; P = 0.007) or in freestanding surgical facilities (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.74-2.96; P < 0.0001) and if payment for their surgery was supported by government programs (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.01-6.21; P = 0.048) or private insurance (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.12-6.13; P = 0.03) versus self-pay or charity care.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients receiving ambulatory orthopedic surgery in the United States, our results suggest that geographic and socioeconomic factors are associated with different likelihoods of perioperative peripheral nerve block placement.

Pre- and post-surgical factors that predict the provision of rescue analgesia following hysterectomy

BACKGROUND

To better manage post-surgical pain, standardized analgesic protocols allow for rescue analgesia (RA). This study seeks to determine which pre- and post-surgical clinical and patient-related factors, in addition to post-surgical pain, may influence health care professional decisions on RA administration.

METHODS

A consecutive sample of 185 women, submitted to hysterectomy for benign disorders, was assessed 24 h before (time 1; T1) and 48 h after (time 2; T2) surgery. At T1, baseline demographic, clinical and psychological predictors were assessed and at T2, post-surgical pain, anxiety and RA administration were recorded.

RESULTS

After controlling for post-surgical acute pain intensity, logistic regression results revealed several pre-surgical (T1) and surgical factors associated with post-surgical RA: having other previous pain states [odds ratio (OR), 4.551; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.642-12.611, p = 0.004], being anaesthetized with only general or loco-regional anaesthesia (OR, 5.349; 95% CI, 1.976-14.483, p = 0.001) and pre-surgical fear of immediate consequences of surgery (OR, 1.306; 95% CI, 1.031-1.655, p = 0.027). Concerning post-surgical variables, higher pain intensity (OR, 1.591; 95% CI, 1.353-1.871, p < 0.001) and post-surgical anxiety (OR, 1.245; 95% CI, 1.084-1.430, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with RA provision.

CONCLUSIONS

Health care decision making to administer RA might be influenced not only by post-surgical pain intensity but also by pre-surgical and surgical clinical factors, such as previous pain and type of anaesthesia. Patient-related psychological characteristics, such as pre-surgical fear and post-surgical anxiety, may also play a role in decision making on RA provision. Implications for practice are discussed.

Predictors for moderate to severe acute postoperative pain after total hip and knee replacement

PURPOSE

The ability to identify and focus care to patients at higher risk of moderate to severe postoperative pain should improve analgesia and patient satisfaction, and may affect reimbursement. We undertook this multi-centre cross-sectional study to identify preoperative risk factors for moderate to severe pain after total hip (THR) and knee (TKR) replacement.

METHODS

A total of 897 patients were identified from electronic medical records. Preoperative information and anaesthetic technique was gained by retrospective chart review. The primary outcomes were moderate to severe pain (pain score ≥ 4/10) at rest and with activity on postoperative day one. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors for moderate to severe pain.

RESULTS

Moderate to severe pain was reported by 20 % at rest and 33 % with activity. Predictors for pain at rest were female gender (OR 1.10 with 95 % CI 1.01-1.20), younger age (0.96, 0.94-0.99), increased BMI (1.02, 1.01-1.03), TKR vs. THR (3.21, 2.73-3.78), increased severity of preoperative pain at the surgical site (1.15, 1.03-1.30), preoperative use of opioids (1.63, 1.32-2.01), and general anaesthesia (8.51, 2.13-33.98). Predictors for pain with activity were TKR vs. THR (1.42, 1.28-1.57), increased severity of preoperative pain at the surgical site (1.11, 1.04-1.19), general anaesthesia (9.02, 3.68-22.07), preoperative use of anti-convulsants (1.78, 1.32-2.40) and anti-depressants (1.50, 1.08-2.80), and prior surgery at the surgical site (1.28, 1.05-1.57).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide clinical guidance for preoperative stratification of patients for more intensive management potentially including education, nursing staffing, and referral to specialised pain management.

Predictors of postoperative movement and resting pain following total knee replacement

This study determined preoperative predictors of movement and resting pain following total knee replacement (TKR). We hypothesized that younger patients with higher preoperative pain intensity, pain sensitivity, trait anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and depression would be more likely to experience higher postoperative movement pain than older patients with lower scores on these variables prior to surgery, and that predictors would be similar for resting pain. Demographics, analgesic intake, anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing, resting pain, movement pain (ie, during active knee range of motion), and quantitative sensory tests were performed preoperatively on 215 participants scheduled for a unilateral TKR. On postoperative day 2, analgesic intake, resting pain, and movement pain were again assessed. Significant predictors of moderate or severe movement pain were higher preoperative movement pain, von Frey pain intensity, and heat pain threshold. People with severe movement pain preoperatively were 20 times more likely to have severe movement pain postoperatively. When the influence of preoperative movement pain was removed, depression became a predictor. Significant predictors of moderate to severe resting pain were higher preoperative resting pain, depression, and younger age. These results suggest that patients with higher preoperative pain and depression are more likely to have higher pain following TKR, and younger patients may have higher resting pain. Cutaneous pain sensitivity predicted movement pain but not resting pain, suggesting that mechanisms underlying movement pain are different from resting pain. Aggressive management of preoperative pain, pain sensitivity, and depression prior to surgery may facilitate postoperative recovery.

Transversus abdominis plane block for analgesia in renal transplantation: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has proven effective in reducing opioid requirements and pain scores for some procedures involving the lower abdominal wall. In this study we assessed its efficacy in patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing cadaveric renal transplantation.

METHODS

Sixty-five adult renal transplant recipients were prospectively randomized to receive a standard general anesthetic technique supplemented with levobupivacaine 0.375% 20 mL TAP block or sham block with 20 mL 0.9% saline. Both groups received patient-controlled morphine analgesia and acetaminophen. Patient assessment occurred in the postanesthetic care unit and at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours. The primary outcome was total morphine consumption in the first 24 hours after renal transplantation. Other outcomes assessed included pain scores, presence of nausea or vomiting, excessive sedation, and respiratory depression.

RESULTS

Morphine requirements did not differ between the 2 groups, 31.6 ± 5.6 mg in the TAP group and 32.6 ± 5.5 mg in the control group (95% confidence interval [CI], -8.96 to 7.09, P = 0.817). Pain scores also did not differ significantly at any time point after surgery. Nausea was reported in 53% of the TAP group and 24% of the control group. The relative risk of nausea associated with treatment was 2.2 (95% CI, 1.1 to 4.3, P = 0.017). No patient exhibited excessive sedation or respiratory depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of a TAP block to the analgesia regimen for renal transplantation did not reduce morphine requirements.

The role of continuous peripheral nerve blocks

A continuous peripheral nerve block (cPNB) is provided in the hospital and ambulatory setting. The most common use of CPNBs is in the peri- and postoperative period but different indications have been described like the treatment of chronic pain such as cancer-induced pain, complex regional pain syndrome or phantom limb pain. The documented benefits strongly depend on the analgesia quality and include decreasing baseline/dynamic pain, reducing additional analgesic requirements, decrease of postoperative joint inflammation and inflammatory markers, sleep disturbances and opioid-related side effects, increase of patient satisfaction and ambulation/functioning improvement, an accelerated resumption of passive joint range-of-motion, reducing time until discharge readiness, decrease in blood loss/blood transfusions, potential reduction of the incidence of postsurgical chronic pain and reduction of costs. Evidence deriving from randomized controlled trials suggests that in some situations there are also prolonged benefits of regional anesthesia after catheter removal in addition to the immediate postoperative effects. Unfortunately, there are only few data demonstrating benefits after catheter removal and the evidence of medium- or long-term improvements in health-related quality of life measures is still lacking. This review will give an overview of the advantages and adverse effects of cPNBs.

Effect of anti-anxiety treatment on sevoflurane requirement and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy

AIM: To investigate the effect of anti-anxiety treatment with lorazepam and midazolam on sevoflurane requirement and postoperative recovery in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy.

METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing radical gastrectomy were divided into two groups: observation group and control group. The observation group was administered with lorazepam the night before surgery and midazolam 40 min before the induction of anesthesia, while the control group was not given such drugs. BIS monitoring was used to control the depth of anesthesia. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores were obtained preoperatively, while the requirement of sevoflurane during operation and the VAS scores 2 h, 6 h and 24 h postoperatively were also calculated.

RESULTS: The observation group had lower STAI scores (S-AI: 53.6 ± 4.45 vs 62.70 ± 3.98, P < 0.05; T-AI: 54.78 ± 3.97 vs 65.65 ± 4.21, P < 0.05) and less requirement of sevoflurane during operation (34.7 ± 0.46 vs 36.2 ± 0.44, P < 0.05). The VAS scores at 6 and 24 hours postoperatively were lower in the observation group (6 h: 3.45 ± 1.60 vs 4.89 ± 1.91, P < 0.05; 24 h: 3.51 ± 1.76 vs 5.17 ± 1.71, P < 0.05) than in the control group. There were no significant differences in awaking time and extubation time between the two groups (both P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Combined use of lorazepam and midazolam can reduce preoperative anxiety, intraoperative sevoflurane requirement, and postoperative pain in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy.

Post-operative pain management practices in patients with dementia - the current situation in Finland

The aim of this study is to describe current post-operative pain management practices for patients with dementia and hip fracture in Finland. Older adults with hip fracture are at high risk of under treatment for pain, especially if they also have a cognitive disorder at the stage of dementia. Previous studies have provided limited information about the quality of acute pain treatment for persons with dementia. In this study data concerning current pain management practices was collected by questionnaire from 333 nursing staff. They worked in surgical wards of seven universities and ten city-centre hospitals. The response rate to the questionnaire was 53%. The data was analysed using factor analysis and parametric methods. Half the respondents (53%) considered that post-operative pain management was sufficient for patients with dementia. Less than one third of respondent nurses reported that pain scales were in use on their unit: the most commonly used scale was VAS. The use of pain scales was significantly related to the respondents' opinion of the sufficiency of post-operative pain management in this patient group (p<0.001). The findings can be utilised in nursing practice and research when planning suitable complementary educational interventions for nursing staff of surgical wards. Further research is needed to explain the current situation of pain management practices from the viewpoint of patients with dementia.

Early pain after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. A qualitative systematic review

BACKGROUND

Early post-operative pain after laparoscopic groin hernia repair may, as in other laparoscopic operations, have its own individual pain pattern and patient-related predictors of early pain. The purpose of this review was to characterise pain within the first post-operative week after transabdominal pre-peritoneal repair (TAPP) and total extraperitoneal repair (TEP), and to identify patient-related predictors of early pain.

METHODS

A qualitative systematic review was conducted. Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane database were searched for studies on early pain (first week) after TAPP or TEP.

RESULTS

We included 71 eligible studies with 14,023 patients. Post-operative pain is most severe on day 0 and mainly on a level of 13-58 mm on a visual analogue scale and decreases to low levels on day 3. There seems to be no difference in pain intensity and duration when TEP and TAPP are compared. Deep abdominal pain (i.e. groin pain/visceral pain) dominates over superficial pain (i.e. somatic pain) and shoulder pain (i.e. referred pain) after TAPP. Predictors of early pain are young age and pre-operative high pain response to experimental heat stimulation. Furthermore, evidence supported early pain intensity as a predictive risk factor of chronic pain after laparoscopic groin hernia repair.

CONCLUSION

Early pain within the first week after TAPP and TEP is most severe on the first post-operative day, and the pain pattern is dominated by deep abdominal pain. Early post-operative pain is most intense in younger patients and can be predicted by pre-operative high pain response to experimental heat stimulation.

Postoperative pain associated with orthopedic shoulder and elbow surgery: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

In the last 2 decades, extensive research in postoperative pain management has been undertaken to decrease morbidity. Orthopedic procedures tend to have increased pain compared with other procedures, but further research must be done to manage pain more efficiently. Postoperative pain morbidities and analgesic dependence continue to adversely affect health care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study assessed the pain of 78 elbow and shoulder surgery patients preoperatively and postoperatively using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Preoperatively, each patient scored their preoperative pain (PP) and anticipated postoperative pain (APP). Postoperatively, they scored their 3-day (3dpp) and 6-week postoperative pain (6wpp). The pain intensities at these 4 intervals were then compared and analyzed using Pearson coefficients.

RESULTS

APP and PP were strong predictors of postoperative pain. The average APP was higher than the average postoperative pain. The 6wpp was significantly lower than the 3dpp. Sex, chronicity, and type of surgery were not significant factors; however, the group aged 18 to 39 years had a significant correlation with postoperative pain.

CONCLUSION

PP and APP were both independent predictors of increased postoperative pain. PP was also predictive of APP. Although, overall postoperative pain was lower than APP or PP due to pain management techniques, postoperative pain was still significantly higher in patients with increased APP or PP than their counterparts. Therefore, surgeons should factor patient's APP and PP to better manage their patient's postoperative pain to decrease comorbidities.

Acute postoperative pain after ureteroscopic removal of stone: incidence and risk factors

Purpose

Ureteroscopic removal of stones (URS) has been widely used to treat ureteral stones because it is comparatively safe, has a high success rate, and enables patients to rapidly return to their daily routines. However, some patients experience pain after URS, but the incidence of acute post-URS pain remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of acute postoperative pain after URS and the associated risk factors.

Materials and Methods

Data for 143 consecutive patients who underwent URS from June 2008 to December 2010 were collected. After excluding 8 patients who developed intraoperative complications, the patients were divided into two groups according to postoperative pain on the first postoperative day. Acute postoperative pain was defined as a pain score greater than 4 on a visual analogue pain scale (normal range, 0 to 10). Various factors were analyzed to identify the risk factors that could predict acute postoperative pain after URS.

Results

The stone-free rate without URS intraoperative complications was 95.5%. A total of 21 (14.6%) patients experienced postoperative pain on the first postoperative day. Young age, psychiatric illness, history of urinary tract infection, use of a stone basket, large stone size, and prolonged operation time were identified as risk factors for acute postoperative pain.

Conclusions

The incidence of acute postoperative pain is not that low and should not be overlooked, because it is associated with postoperative complications that could result in an unscheduled hospital admission or visit. Active pain control should be contemplated after URS in young patients and in those with a history of urinary tract infection, psychiatric illness, large stone size, and prolonged operation time.

Headache following intracranial neuroendovascular procedures

AIMS

Predicting who will develop post-procedure headache (PPH) following intracranial endovascular procedures (IEPs) would be clinically useful and potentially could assist in reducing the excessive diagnostic testing so often obtained in these patients. Although limited safety data exist, the use of triptans or dihydroergotamine (DHE) often raise concern when used with pre/post-coiled aneurysms. We sought to determine risk factors for PPH following IEP, to evaluate the utility of diagnostic testing in patients with post-coil acute headache (HA), and to record whether triptans and DHE have been used safely in this clinical setting.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients undergoing IEPs. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare patients who did and did not develop PPH.

RESULTS

We reviewed records pertaining to 372 patients, of whom 263 underwent intracranial coil embolizations, 21 acrylic glue embolizations, and 88 stent placements. PPH occurred in 72% of coil patients, 33% of glue patients, and 14% of stent patients. Significant risk factors for post-coil HA were female gender, any pre-coil HA history, smoking, and anxiety/depression. A pre-stent history of HA exceeding 1 year's duration, and smoking were risk factors for post-stent HA. A pre-glue history of HA exceeding 1 year was the only risk factor for post-glue HA. In the small subgroup available for study, treatment with triptans or DHE was not associated with adverse events in pre/post-coiled aneurysms. Diagnostic testing was low yield.

CONCLUSIONS

Occurrence of PPH was common after IEPs and especially so with coiling and in women, smokers, and those with anxiety/depression, and was often of longer duration than allowed by current International Classification of Headache Disorders-II criteria. The yield of diagnostic testing was low, and in a small subgroup treatment with triptans or DHE did not cause adverse events in pre/post-coiled aneurysms. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.