Low-level laser therapy improves pain in postcesarean section: a randomized clinical trial

Low-level laser therapy for nipple trauma and pain during breastfeeding: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on nipple trauma and pain during breastfeeding through a systematic review with a meta-analysis of selected studies.

Source of the data

A thorough search was conducted on March 22, 2022, using the databases PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, PEDro, CINAHL, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Clinical Trials, Web of Science, TRIP, DARE, and ProQuest. The search terms included various combinations of low-level laser therapy, nipple pain, nipple trauma, and breastfeeding.

Studies selection

Out of 107 articles identified, only three controlled and randomized clinical trials was included. The extracted data encompassed breast and trauma characteristics, treatment types, outcomes (pain and healing process), evaluation tools, LLLT usage, laser brand, and parameters.

Data collection

Data extraction was performed using RAYYAN for systematic reviews. The risk of bias in the studies was evaluated.

Data synthesis

Pain was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). The included studies did not use validated tools for assessing physical conditions. All studies employed LLLT with a 660-nm wavelength, though there were variations in equipment power, energy dose, and application methods. The meta-analysis revealed an average difference of -0.60 points (95% CI: -1.52 to 0.31) in the VAS pain scores between the LLLT and control groups. No heterogeneity was observed among the studies (I2=0%), indicating no significant difference in pain relief between LLLT (red light) and control groups.

Conclusion

LLLT may offer a promising option for managing breastfeeding-related complications, though further research is required.

Does photobiomodulation alter mitochondrial dynamics?

Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the leading causes of disease development. Dysfunctional mitochondria limit energy production, increase reactive oxygen species generation, and trigger apoptotic signals. Photobiomodulation is a noninvasive, nonthermal technique involving the application of monochromatic light with low energy density, inducing non-thermal photochemical effects at the cellular level, and it has been used due to its therapeutic potential. This review focuses on the mitochondrial dynamic's role in various diseases, evaluating the possible therapeutic role of low-power lasers (LPL) and light-emitting diodes (LED). Studies increasingly support that mitochondrial dysfunction is correlated with severe neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth diseases. Furthermore, a disturbance in mitofusin activity is also associated with metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. The effects of PBM on mitochondrial dynamics have been observed in cells using a human fibroblast cell line and in vivo models of brain injury, diabetes, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, and skin injury. Thus, new therapies aiming to improve mitochondrial dynamics are clinically relevant. Several studies have demonstrated that LPL and LED can be important therapies to improve health conditions when there is dysfunction in mitochondrial dynamics.

Photobiomodulation as part of multimodal analgesia to improve pain relief and wound healing after elective caesarean section: A protocol for randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Caesarean section (CS) is the most common inpatient surgical procedure performed in Canada. CS is known to cause moderate-to-severe pain, which is suggested to be associated with postpartum depression and persistent pain. Existing limitations in multimodal analgesia and conscious attempts to avoid opioids highlight the need for non-pharmacological strategies. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) uses light-emitting diode (LED) and laser and has suggested potential for improving pain control and wound healing. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of PBMT as part of existing multimodal analgesia after elective CSs.

METHODS

This placebo-controlled, two-arm, multi-centre, parallel-design randomized controlled trial includes women aged ≥16 years with planned CS under spinal anesthesia (Clinical Trials Registration: NCT05738239). Patients will be randomized post-CS to intervention (n = 90) or placebo (n = 90). Study interventions will be carried out using equipment supported by Meditech International Incorporated (approved by Health Canada for pain relief). Patients will receive a maximum of 5 post-surgical treatment sessions of active PBMT (intervention: LED therapy: DUO 240 [red at 660nm and near-infrared at 840nm] applied parallel to the abdominal incision scar, followed by BIOFLEX LDR-100 laser probe (660nm red light) and the LD1-200 laser probe (825nm near-infrared light), applied at the incision wound edges) or non-effective doses of LED array and laser therapy (placebo), 4-6 hrs post-CS, and at 8am and 7pm of postoperative days 1 and 2. Patients, research assistants involved in patient recruitment and follow-up, health care providers, and data analysts will be blinded. All patients will have access to routine multimodal analgesia. Patients will be followed up in hospital on the evening of surgery and on postoperative days 1 and 2 (morning, noon, and evening); at 6 weeks; and at 3 months by telephone. Primary outcome is pain intensity with movement (elicited by asking the patient to move from supine to sitting position) using 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain).

SIGNIFICANCE

The results of this study may result in improved pain control, maternal satisfaction and wound healing; decrease the use of perioperative opioids; potentially decrease the incidence of postpartum depression and persistent pain; and overall lead to better postoperative outcomes thereby decreasing healthcare costs.

The efficacy of low-level laser therapy for the healing of second-degree burn wounds on lower limbs of glucocorticoid-dependent patients

This study was designed to investigate the effect of 630 ~ 650-nm red light on treating second-degree burns on lower limbs of glucocorticoid-dependent patients. Sixty-two glucocorticoid-dependent patients with the second-degree burns on lower limbs were divided into the control group (n = 25) and the observation group (n = 37) according to the treatment sequence and the patients' willingness. The patients in both groups were conventionally treated with 1% sulfadiazine silver cream dressing, with the only difference that the observation group received an additional 630-650-nm red light irradiation for 20 min before dressing. Each group was observed for 21 days, and observation ended if the wound healing was terminated. The wound healing rates, wound secretions, marginal response, and pain/itching levels were monitored and assessed. Compared with the control group, the observation group showed higher wound healing rate, fewer wound secretions, and more relief in marginal response. Clinical observation showed that 630-650-nm red light could effectively reduce wound purulent drainage/discharge, relieve the marginal response as well as pain, and promote wound healing.

Evaluation of photobiomodulation effect on cesarean-sectioned wound healing: a clinical study

The effects of low-level laser on the wound healing and burn injuries have been previously examined to demonstrate some satisfactory results. Despite there are a few articles available to study photobiomodulation (PBM) effects on the pain relief of cesarean sectioned wound, however no systematic examination has been carried out so far regarding its healing. Here, the aim of this clinical study was to evaluate PBM effect on the cesarean-sectioned wound healing. PBM effects of semiconductor lasers are investigated at 658 and 660 nm with 100, 150 and 350 mW output powers on 40 patients. Due to the global increasing number of cesarean sections, we have decided to investigate the effect of laser as a reliable technique to recover the wounds fast. We considered women as the target group who had their first delivery giving the birth of their children by cesarean section. We selected patients are who treated by laser therapy using indium gallium aluminum phosphide (InGaAlP) semiconductor linear scanning type with beam cross section of 12 cm2 and the output power of 100 mW at 658 nm exposing a therapeutic dose of 2 J/cm2. The purpose is to accelerate the healing process of the wounds after delivery as an intervention group against the people who chose the conventional methods (using ointments, pills, etc.) to heal their cesarean sectioned wounds as the control group. Regarding the wounds of these two groups, the questionnaires were filled by patients to assess the severity of pain from visual analogue scale (VAS) based on the healing of wounds from redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, and distance between the two edges of the wound (REEDA) scale in the early hours after surgery and the post-treatment follow-up on the third, seventh, and the tenth days. The data collected by these questionnaires were analyzed using statistical package for social science)SPSS( as a statistical software to give out the comparative histograms. This study reports a clinical examination of PBM under intervention group of 40 patients ranging 18-40 years old with body mass index (BMI) of 29-36, during post-cesarean surgery to elucidate successful healing of the wounds and scars against conventional methods which considered as control group. Comparison of mean REEDA scores on the third day (p = 0.035), seventh day (p = 0.03), and tenth day (p = 0.02) after delivery exhibits that the two groups benefit a statistically significant difference with each other. For instance, the mean wound healing score in the intervention group was almost half of the mean wound healing score on the tenth day in the control group (1.09 ± 0.586 vs. 2.25 ± 0.422). The post-cesarean follow-up indicates that the patients treated by the laser therapy (intervention group) encounter better recovery than the control group.

Photobiomodulation therapy with an 830-nm light-emitting diode for the prevention of thyroidectomy scars: a randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled clinical trial

This randomized, double-blind, and sham device-controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of home-based photobiomodulation therapy using an 830-nm light-emitting diode (LED)-based device for the prevention of and pain relief from thyroidectomy scars. Participants were randomized to receive photobiomodulation therapy using an LED device or a sham device without an LED from 1 week postoperatively for 4 weeks. Scars were assessed using satisfaction scores, the numeric rating scale (NRS) score for pain, Global Assessment Scale (GAS), and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores. The scars were also assessed using a three-dimensional (3D) skin imaging device to detect color, height, pigmentation, and vascularity. Assessments were performed at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Forty-three patients completed this trial with 21 patients in the treatment group and 22 patients in the control group. The treatment group showed significantly higher patient satisfaction and GAS scores and lower NRS and VSS scores than the control group at 6 months. Improvements in color variation, height, pigmentation, and vascularity at 6 months were greater in the treatment group than in the control group, although the differences were not significant. In conclusion, early application of 830-nm LED-based photobiomodulation treatment significantly prevents hypertrophic scar formation and reduces postoperative pain without noticeable adverse effects.

PROSPECT guideline for elective caesarean section: updated systematic review and procedure-specific postoperative pain management recommendations

Caesarean section is associated with moderate‐to‐severe postoperative pain, which can influence postoperative recovery and patient satisfaction as well as breastfeeding success and mother‐child bonding. The aim of this systematic review was to update the available literature and develop recommendations for optimal pain management after elective caesarean section under neuraxial anaesthesia. A systematic review utilising procedure‐specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) methodology was undertaken. Randomised controlled trials published in the English language between 1 May 2014 and 22 October 2020 evaluating the effects of analgesic, anaesthetic and surgical interventions were retrieved from MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane databases. Studies evaluating pain management for emergency or unplanned operative deliveries or caesarean section performed under general anaesthesia were excluded. A total of 145 studies met the inclusion criteria. For patients undergoing elective caesarean section performed under neuraxial anaesthesia, recommendations include intrathecal morphine 50–100 µg or diamorphine 300 µg administered pre‐operatively; paracetamol; non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs; and intravenous dexamethasone administered after delivery. If intrathecal opioid was not administered, single‐injection local anaesthetic wound infiltration; continuous wound local anaesthetic infusion; and/or fascial plane blocks such as transversus abdominis plane or quadratus lumborum blocks are recommended. The postoperative regimen should include regular paracetamol and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs with opioids used for rescue. The surgical technique should include a Joel‐Cohen incision; non‐closure of the peritoneum; and abdominal binders. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation could be used as analgesic adjunct. Some of the interventions, although effective, carry risks, and consequentially were omitted from the recommendations. Some interventions were not recommended due to insufficient, inconsistent or lack of evidence. Of note, these recommendations may not be applicable to unplanned deliveries or caesarean section performed under general anaesthesia.