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Kvolik S, Koruga N, Skiljic S. Analgesia in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit. Front Neurol 2022; 12:819613. [PMID: 35185756 PMCID: PMC8848763 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.819613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute pain in neurosurgical patients is an important issue. Opioids are the most used for pain treatment in the neurosurgical ICU. Potential side effects of opioid use such as oversedation, respiratory depression, hypercapnia, worsening intracranial pressure, nausea, and vomiting may be problems and could interfere with neurologic assessment. Consequently, reducing opioids and use of non-opioid analgesics and adjuvants (N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists, α2 -adrenergic agonists, anticonvulsants, corticosteroids), as well as non-pharmacological therapies were introduced as a part of a multimodal regimen. Local and regional anesthesia is effective in opioid reduction during the early postoperative period. Among non-opioid agents, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used frequently. Adverse events associated with opioid use in neurosurgical patients are discussed. Larger controlled studies are needed to find optimal pain management tailored to neurologically impaired neurosurgical patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavica Kvolik
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Osijek University Hospital, Osijek, Croatia
- *Correspondence: Slavica Kvolik
| | - Nenad Koruga
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Osijek University Hospital, Osijek, Croatia
| | - Sonja Skiljic
- Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Osijek University Hospital, Osijek, Croatia
- Sonja Skiljic
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