A form to report pain assessment and monitoring in the oncology clinical record: a Delphi process

Background: Treatment of cancer pain remains suboptimal worldwide. In Italy, a law requires that pain be regularly assessed and reported in both medical and nursing records. Aim: To provide a homogeneous form to get exhaustive clinical information in the clinical report according to Italian legislation. Methods: A board, including oncologists and pain therapists, designed a form to report the pain characteristics of cancer patients in Italy in clinical records. The form was voted on through a Delphi process among directors of 18 clinical oncology specialization schools in Italy to obtain agreement on its content. Results: A form useful for collecting and reporting comprehensive and homogeneous information on pain among oncologists in Italy was produced. Conclusion: The development of common strategies for pain management can be improved by using this tool.

Topical treatment of radiation-induced dermatitis: current issues and potential solutions

Approximately 95% of patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) will ultimately develop radiation-induced dermatitis (RID) during or after the course of treatment, with major consequences on quality of life and treatment outcomes. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of RID and currently used topical products for the prevention and treatment of RID. Although there is no consensus on the appropriate management, recent evidence suggests that the use of topical products supports to protect and promote tissue repair in patients with RID. Basic recommendations include advice to wear loose clothing, using electric razors if necessary, and avoiding cosmetic products, sun exposure or extreme temperatures. Based on mechanisms involved and on the clinical characteristics of oncological patients, the profile of the ideal topical product for addressing RID can be designed; it should have limited risk of adverse events, systemic adsorption and drug–drug interactions, should be characterized by multiple clinical activities, with a special focus on localized pain, and should have a careful formulation as some vehicles can block the RT beam.

Levetiracetam Improves Upper Limb Spasticity in a Patient With Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome: A Case Report

Severe spasticity is a frequent and disabling complication in patients presenting disorders of consciousness (DOC) that hinders their rehabilitative process, and is strongly correlated with pain reducing patients’ quality of life. In these patients, abnormal postures may occur as an expression of severe brain damage. Here we present the case of a 52-year-old man in decorticate rigidity following a hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy due to myocardial infarction who showed improvement of spasticity of upper limbs following intake of levetiracetam combined with the conventional neurorehabilitation program.

Severe acquired brain injury aetiologies, early clinical factors, and rehabilitation outcomes: a retrospective study on pediatric patients in rehabilitation

Objective: Studies on pediatric severe acquired brain injury (sABI) outcomes focused mostly on single etiologies, not clarifying the independent role of clinical factors, and scantly explored inter-dependence between variables. We assessed associations of clinical factors at admission with essential outcomes, controlling for inter-dependence and sABI etiology. Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 280 patients with traumatic and 292 with non-traumatic sABI, discharged from intensive care to pediatric neurological rehabilitation. We analyzed the distribution of clinical factors based on sABI etiology; conducted a factor analysis of variables; built multivariate models evaluating the associations of variables with death, persistent vegetative states, duration of coma, GOS outcome, length of stay. Results: We described the study sample. Factor analysis of inter-dependence between GCS, time before rehabilitation, dysautonomia, device use, produced the indicators "injury severity" and "neurological dysfunction", independent from sABI etiology, age, sex, and admittance GOS. Multivariate analyzes showed that: coma duration, GOS outcome, and length of stay, which may depend on rehabilitation courses, were directly associated with injury severity, neurological dysfunction, and patients' age; death and persistent vegetative states were also associated with etiology. Conclusion: Future studies should analyze larger cohorts and investigate mechanisms linking specific etiologies and patients' age with outcomes.

Association of Hyponatraemia and Antidepressant Drugs: A Pharmacovigilance-Pharmacodynamic Assessment Through an Analysis of the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Database

BACKGROUND

Hyponatraemia induced by antidepressant drugs is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse reaction. Whether it is associated with all or only some antidepressant drugs is still unclear. This needs to be clarified to guide antidepressant therapies, especially in patients with electrolytic imbalances.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to quantify the strength of association between the use of different antidepressant drugs and hyponatraemia by using information reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The secondary objective was to investigate the putative relationship between different antidepressant pharmacological targets and the risks of hyponatraemia induced by antidepressant drugs using the 'pharmacovigilance-pharmacodynamic' method.

METHODS

We used the FAERS database to conduct a case/non-case analysis on spontaneous reports, focusing on events of hyponatraemia/syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) reported in connection with the use of antidepressant drugs. Risk was expressed as a measure of disproportionality using the reporting odds ratio while adjusting for sex, age and concomitant medications associated with hyponatraemia/SIADH. We assessed to what extent the receptor-binding properties of antidepressant drugs could associate with the reporting odds ratios of hyponatraemia/SIADH of antidepressant drugs, building a linear regression model that included as independent variables the binding affinities (pKi) to the serotonin transporter, dopamine transporter, norepinephrine transporter, and serotonin 5-HT_2C, 5-HT_2A and 5-HT_1A, and α₁- and α₂-adrenergic receptors.

RESULTS

There were 2233 reports identified. The adjusted reporting odds ratio for the association between antidepressant drug use and hyponatraemia was 1.91 (95% confidence interval 1.83-2.00). The association was strongest for mirtazapine, followed by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and lowest with serotonin-modulating antidepressant drugs. A significant linear correlation was found between the adjusted reporting odds ratios for hyponatraemia and pKi for the adrenergic receptors α₁ and α₂.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyponatraemia is reported at a disproportionately higher level with classes of antidepressant drugs (noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant [mirtazapine] and serotonin modulators [vortioxetine]) that are in general considered to have a better profile of tolerability in terms of hyponatraemia. With regard to the presented results, the risk of hyponatraemia with mirtazapine appears to be greater than what was reported in the literature; however, confounding by indication cannot be ruled out. Our pharmacovigilance-pharmacodynamic analysis also indicates that inhibition of the serotonin transporter may not be involved in the hyponatraemia linked to the use of antidepressant drugs.

Review of the Methods to Obtain Paediatric Drug Safety Information: Spontaneous Reporting and Healthcare Databases, Active Surveillance Programmes, Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of drugs safety collected during the pre-marketing phase is inevitably limited because the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are rarely designed to evaluate safety. The small and selective groups of enrolled individuals and the limited duration of trials may hamper the ability to characterize fully the safety profiles of drugs. Additionally, information about rare adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in special groups is often incomplete or not available for most of the drugs commonly used in the daily clinical practice. In the paediatric setting several highimpact safety issues have emerged. Hence, in recent years, there has been a call for improved post-marketing pharmacoepidemiological studies, in which cohorts of patients are monitored for sufficient time in order to determine the precise risk-benefit ratio.

OBJECTIVE

In this review, we discuss the current available strategies enhancing the post-marketing monitoring activities of the drugs in the paediatric setting and define criteria whereby they can provide valuable information to improve the management of therapy in daily clinical practice including both safety and efficacy aspects. The strategies we cover include the signal detection using international pharmacovigilance and/or healthcare databases, the promotion of active surveillance initiatives which can generate complete, informative data sets for the signal detection and systematic review/meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

Together, these methods provide a comprehensive picture of causality and risk improving the management of therapy in a paediatric setting and they should be considered as a unique tool to be integrated with post-marketing activities.

The impact of a successful treatment of hepatitis C virus on glyco-metabolic control in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

The effect of HCV eradication following the use of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) on the glyco-metabolic control is unknown. Through a meta-analysis of available clinical studies, we investigated whether eradication of HCV infection with interferon-free DAAs is associated with improved glyco-metabolic control in diabetic patients.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase, up to 08th June 2018, for all studies evaluating whether eradication of HCV infection with DAAs is associated with changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels from baseline in human subjects, without restrictions for study type and language. Data were independently extracted by two researchers using pre-specified forms. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted on HbA1c and FPG levels before/after HCV eradication.

RESULTS

We found a significant mean reduction in HbA1c levels of - 0.45% (95% CI - 0.60 to - 0.30%; P < 0.001) and in FPG levels of - 22.03 mg/dL (95% CI - 41.61 to - 2.44 mg/dL; P = 0.03), with high heterogeneity between studies (χ² = 20.4, P < 0.001, I² = 80% and χ² = 35.8, P = 0.001, I² = 94%, respectively). The number of available manuscripts did not allow conducting a meta-regression to elucidate the role of sustained virological response and other confounders in determining the effect of direct-acting antiviral agents on HbA1c reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a significant improvement in glyco-metabolic control after HCV eradication (in terms of glycated haemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose levels reduction) following direct-acting antiviral treatment in patients with established diabetes, including a consequent positive impact on anti-diabetic therapies.

Central nervous system-active drug abused and overdose in children: a worldwide exploratory study using the WHO pharmacovigilance database

Recent epidemiological studies have reported an increase in central nervous system (CNS)-active drug abuse rates in paediatric settings, raising several public health concerns. No study to date has explored this issue worldwide. We performed an extensive analysis of drugs abuse/overdose reported for children in the last decade by using the largest pharmacovigilance database, i.e. the VigiBase, collecting adverse drug reaction reports that involved at least one suspect drug belonging to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code "Nervous System" through the Standardised Medical Dictionary for Drug Regulatory Affairs Queries for Drug abuse. 8.682 reports matched our criteria. An increase in reporting activity was observed, starting from 2014; an intentional overdose was reported more frequently than an accidental one, with a difference between age groups. We retrieved 997 reports with death outcome. These referred more to adolescents (n = 538) than subjects of any other paediatric age group. Paracetamol and opioid analgesics were the most common suspect drugs in deaths across all age groups due to hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, brain death, and cardio-respiratory arrest.Conclusion: The number of reports associated with drug abuse and overdose is increasing (for opioid and paracetamol-containing products) and a considerable number of adverse drug reactions are serious. Data on the patterns of use of such medicines from each country may help in implementing strategies of risk-minimisation and renewing healthcare recommendations worldwide. An increased clinical awareness of drug abuse and overdose is warranted, while continuing to provide effective treatments. What is Known: • The large increase in paediatric prescriptions for CNS-active drugs in the last 20 years has recently raised public health concerns about drug abuse and overdose. • No study to date has examined this issue in paediatric patients worldwide. What is New: • The number of paediatric reports associated with CNS drug abuse and intentional overdose is increasing, including those with fatal outcome; over 4 years; more than 35% of the reports was entered from European countries. • Opioid and paracetamol were most frequently suspected for ADRs with fatal outcome across all age groups, due to hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and cardio-respiratory arrest, suggesting the need to implement strategies of risk-minimisation.

Adverse drug events related to mood and emotion in paediatric patients treated for ADHD: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

ADHD is frequently comorbid with anxiety and mood disorders, which may increase the severity of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. Emotional symptoms (anxiety, irritability, mood lability) also affect patients without comorbidity or emerge as adverse drug events. The influence of ADHD drugs on emotional symptoms demands investigation to improve therapies.

METHODS

Systematic review of trials reporting adverse events in patients pharmacologically treated for ADHD. Meta-analysis of the occurrence of irritability, anxiety, apathy, reduced talk, sadness, crying, emotional lability, biting nails, staring, perseveration, euphoria. Meta-regression analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-five trials were meta-analysed. The most frequently reported outcomes were irritability, anxiety, sadness, and apathy. Methylphenidates, especially immediate-release formulations, were most studied; amphetamines were half as studied and were predominantly mixed amphetamine salts. Reports on atomoxetine were scant. Meta-analysis showed that methylphenidates reduced the risk of irritability, anxiety, euphoria, whereas they worsened the risk of apathy and reduced talk; amphetamines worsened the risk of emotional lability. Factors influencing risks were study year and design, patients' sex and age, drug dose and release formulation.

LIMITATIONS

Possible discrepancy between adverse events as indicated in clinical trials and as summarised herein. Confounding due to the aggregation of drugs into groups; uninvestigated sources of bias; incomplete lists of adverse events; lack of observations on self-injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Methylphenidates appeared safer than amphetamines, although younger patients and females may incur higher risks, especially with high-dose, immediate-release methylphenidates. Only atomoxetine holds a black-box warning, but amphetamines and methylphenidates also did not show a safe profile regarding mood and emotional symptoms.

No signal of interactions between influenza vaccines and drugs used for chronic diseases: a case-by-case analysis of the vaccine adverse event reporting system and vigibase

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of reports indicates that vaccines against influenza may interact with specific drugs via drug metabolism. To date, actual impact of vaccine-drug interactions observed in the real world clinical practice has not been investigated.

METHODS

From VAERS and VigiBase, we collected Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) reports for individuals receiving vaccines against influenza recorded as suspect and selected cases where predictable toxicity was recorded with oral anticoagulants, antiepileptics and statins (i.e. hemorrhages, overdosage and rhabdomyolysis, respectively). We applied AEFI and Drug Interaction Probability Scale (DIPS) Algorithms to assess causality of drug-vaccine interactions.

RESULTS

116 AEFI reports submitted to VAERS and 83 from Vigibase were included in our analysis; antiepileptics and statins were related to the highest number of indeterminate/consistent (93.7%; 65.3%) and possible/probable (50%; 57.7%) cases according to the AEFI and DIPS, respectively. The majority of cases occurred within the first week after vaccine administration (5-7 days).

CONCLUSION

The relative paucity of detected interactions does not impact on the benefit of the vaccination against influenza, which remains strongly recommended; this does not exclude that closer monitoring for selected patients exposed to concomitant chronic pharmacological therapies and affected by predisposing factors may be useful.

Second generation antipsychotics in 'real-life' paediatric patients. Adverse drug reactions and clinical outcomes of drug switch

OBJECTIVE

Gap in knowledge on benefit/risk ratio of second generation antipsychotics (SGA) in the paediatric population represents a challenge for the scientific community. This study aims to analyse all suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to SGA observed during the study period; compare the safety profiles of risperidone and aripiprazole; evaluate the effect of switching from risperidone to aripiprazole or to a first generation antipsychotic (FGA).

METHODS

Prospective analysis of spontaneously reported ADRs concerning 184 paediatric outpatients between 2012 and 2014.; clinical outcomes of drug switch were evaluated.

RESULTS

Out of the 184 patients, 130 experienced at least one ADR; ADRs were usually not serious and more frequently associated with aripiprazole. Switching to aripiprazole was associated with better results than switching to FGAs in the Clinical Global Impression scale- Efficacy (CGI-E) scores (p = 0.018), Disturbed behaviour checklist-parents (DBC-P) self-absorption subscale (p = 0.010); only a trend for difference between changing to aripiprazole vs FGAs in the DBC-P total score (p = 0.054) and social relating subscale (p = 0.053) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

SGAs safety data were consistent with the ones already known; however, there is still a need to improve the knowledge in pharmacovigilance field among clinicians. Switching to aripiprazole may be a valid alternative to risperidone.

Persistence in Therapy With Risperidone and Aripiprazole in Pediatric Outpatients: A 2-Year Naturalistic Comparison

OBJECTIVE

The practical effectiveness of second-generation antipsychotics in children and adolescents is an understudied issue. It is a crucial area of study, though, because such patients are often treated for long-lasting disorders.

METHODS

We carried out a 24-month (March 2012-March 2014) observational study on an unselected population of pediatric outpatients treated with risperidone, aripiprazole, olanzapine, or quetiapine aiming to (1) describe drug use, (2) compare post hoc the discontinuation rates due to specific causes and dose adjustments by Kaplan-Meier analyses between drugs, and (3) analyze predictors influencing these outcomes by Cox multivariate models.

RESULTS

Among 184 pediatric patients, 77% patients were prescribed risperidone, and 18% were prescribed aripiprazole. Olanzapine or quetiapine were scantly used; therefore, they were excluded from analyses. Risperidone was prevalent in younger, male patients with disruptive behavioral disorders; aripiprazole, in patients with tic disorders. Overall, discontinuations occurred mostly in the first 6 months, and, at 24 months, the discontinuation numbers were similar between users of risperidone and aripiprazole (41.5% vs 39.4%). In univariate analyses, dose reduction was higher for aripiprazole (P = .033). Multivariate analyses yielded the following predictors: for all-cause discontinuation, baseline severity (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48, P = .001) and dose increase (HR = 3.55, P = .001); for patient-decided discontinuation, dose change (increase: HR = 6.43, P = .004; reduction: HR = 7.89, P = .049) and the presence of concomitant drugs (HR = 4.03, P = .034), while autistic patients discontinued less (HR = 0.23, P = .050); for clinician-decided discontinuation due to adverse drug reactions, baseline severity (HR = 1.96, P = .005) and dose increase (HR = 5.09, P = .016); for clinician-decided discontinuation due to inefficacy, baseline severity (HR = 2.88, P = .014) and the use of aripiprazole (HR = 5.55, P = .013); for dose increase, none; for dose reduction, the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (HR = 4.74, P = .046), while dose reduction was less probable in autistic patients (HR = 0.22, P = .042).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study show a similarity between the overall effectiveness of risperidone and aripiprazole in a real-life pediatric outpatient setting.

ESCRT III repairs nuclear envelope ruptures during cell migration to limit DNA damage and cell death

In eukaryotic cells, the nuclear envelope separates the genomic DNA from the cytoplasmic space and regulates protein trafficking between the two compartments. This barrier is only transiently dissolved during mitosis. Here, we found that it also opened at high frequency in migrating mammalian cells during interphase, which allowed nuclear proteins to leak out and cytoplasmic proteins to leak in. This transient opening was caused by nuclear deformation and was rapidly repaired in an ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport)-dependent manner. DNA double-strand breaks coincided with nuclear envelope opening events. As a consequence, survival of cells migrating through confining environments depended on efficient nuclear envelope and DNA repair machineries. Nuclear envelope opening in migrating leukocytes could have potentially important consequences for normal and pathological immune responses.

A case of dysgraphia induced by sertraline and a review of official spontaneous adverse reaction databases

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES

The occurrence of dysgraphia after sertraline intake has never been reported. The objective was to describe a case of this adverse drug reaction and present a review of similar cases held in international databases with a discussion of the possible pharmacological mechanisms.

CASE SUMMARY

We observed a 60-year-old man who experienced resting tremors, dyskinesia and dysgraphia 2 months after a stepwise increase in sertraline dosing from 50 to 200 mg/day.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Dysgraphia is a possible adverse drug reaction to sertraline, and we suggest that inhibition of extrapyramidal dopaminergic activity might be the pharmacological mechanism.

Use of a checklist to improve pain control in hospitalized cancer patients: the 38Checkpain project

AIM

Checklists may improve management of patients in different settings. However, no studies have been conducted to investigate the use of this tool to improve inpatient pain control. This study, conducted in Italy, aims to describe the experience, in terms of pain control, of the widespread introduction of a checklist for pain control in oncological patients, according to current Italian legislation.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In total, 92 Italian centers were randomly assigned to the use of the 38Checkpain to monitor pain management or to continue their standard practice without the use of this tool.

RESULTS

The 38Checkpain improved the control of pain compared with centers who did not use this tool.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that the application of the 38Checkpain may help improve control of pain of hospitalized oncological patients.

Lymphatic edema of the lower limbs after orthopedic surgery: results of a randomized, open-label clinical trial with a new extended-release preparation

The lymphedema is a high interstitial protein concentration edema, caused by impaired lymphatic transport capacity. It can be primary or secondary. The secondary form may be caused by a lesion of the lymphatic vessels and/or lymph nodes during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as surgical interventions. Often, in clinical practice, there is lymphedema after orthopedic surgery, even in minor orthopedic surgery. Lymphedema, typically presents symptoms of swelling, pain, inflammation, and itching, and it can generate, over the years, acute disability in the affected limbs. The standard therapy is mainly represented by medical treatment, such as manual lymphatic drainage and compression with bandages and stockings. In literature it is documented that lymphedema is responsive to alpha and the gamma benzopyrones. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of delayed extended-release formulation of a compound containing apha-benzo-pyrone (Coumarin), benzo-gamma-pyrone (Troxuretina) and oligomeric proanthocyanidins from Vitis vinifera (OPC), in addition to compression therapy, in the reduction of lymphatic edema after prosthetic hip and knee surgery. In the group treated, after 30 days, a reduction was observed of the edema of 4.8% in the ankle area (p less than 0.008) and 2.7% in the calf area (p less than 0.013). The control group showed no significant reduction. The treated group showed a marked reduction of all the secondary symptoms considered in the study, although variations were not significant. The results show that the compound used was effective in reducing edema after major orthopedic surgery, and consequently in alleviating some related symptoms, such as pain, itching, and burning. As an edema has extensive inflammatory components in patients with reduced mobility, the final data seems interesting, however, further investigations and a better follow-up are required.

Throbbing headache associated with enoxaparin administration: a case report, a review of pharmacovigilance databases for similar cases and possible mechanisms

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES

To date, no case of headache has been reported with enoxaparin. We present the case of a 60-years-old man, who developed enoxaparin-induced throbbing headache and discuss the possible pharmacological mechanisms. We provide an analysis of enoxaparin-induced headache in three international databases.

CASE SUMMARY

A few hours after the subcutaneous administration of this drug at therapeutic dose, the patient experienced throbbing headache. Rechallenge on two other separate occasions separated by several days produced the same effect although with reduced intensity when the dose was lowered. The Naranjo Algorithm indicated a 'certain' relationship.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

We report a case of throbbing headache associated with the use of enoxaparin; with the increasing use of enoxaparin, physicians who prescribe this drug should be aware of this potential ADR. We suggest that it is a heparin class-effect, and therefore, a more general caution is also appropriate.

[Postoperative intravenous morphine titration in PACU after bariatric laparoscopic surgery]

OBJECTIVE

There is limited information available regarding intravenous (IV) morphine administration in obese patients in PACU. The aim of this study was to compare two IV morphine titration (IMT) regimen in two surgical centers.

STUDY DESIGN

Observational study.

PATIENTS

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery in one private (Saint-Grégoire Clinic) and one public (University Hospital of Amiens) surgical center.

METHODS

A strict and common protocol of IMT was implemented if PACU of both centers according to the recommendations of the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. When pain score increased to>30, IMT was titrated every 5 min in 3mg increments until pain relief (VAS≤30 mm). Pain level, dose of morphine (per total and ideal body weight), effectiveness, and side events were recorded.

RESULTS

Data were recorded for 159 adult patients (129 women). Mean age and BMI were 42±12 yrs and 43.8±6.9 kg/m(2). Ninety-eight patients were eligible for IMT regimen but only 76 patients received IV morphine (47.8 %). Mean dose was 7.3 mg±3.5mg [1-19 mg], (60.4 μg/kg and 115.8 μg/kg). IMT was less frequent, mean dose was greater (8.6±4.2 vs 6.2±2.9 mg) and number of patients with pain relief was higher (73.7 vs 35.6 %) in the public hospital. No severe adverse events have been recorded and there was no difference in both centers regarding these events.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of a IMT regimen in PACU was not associated with effective pain relief after laparoscopic surgery in obese patients.

Randomised phase II trial (NCT00637975) evaluating activity and toxicity of two different escalating strategies for pregabalin and oxycodone combination therapy for neuropathic pain in cancer patients

Purpose

Neuropathic pain is commonly associated with cancer. Current treatments include combination opioid and adjuvant therapies, but no guidelines are available for dose escalation strategies. This phase II study compared the efficacy and tolerability of two dose escalation strategies for oxycodone and pregabalin combination therapy.

Methods

Patients (N = 75) with oncological neuropathic pain, previously untreated with pregabalin, were recruited in 5 Italian institutions between 2007 and 2010. Patients were randomised to two different dose escalation strategies (arm A; N = 38) oxycodone at a fixed dose with increasing pregabalin doses; (arm B; N = 37) pregabalin at a fixed dose with increasing oxycodone doses. Patients were evaluated from daily diaries and follow-ups at 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after beginning treatment with a numerical rating scale (NRS), neuropathic pain scale (SDN), and well-being scale (ESAS). The primary endpoint was a ≥1/3 reduction in pain (NRS); secondary endpoints included the time to analgesia and adverse effects. The study had a 90% probability of detecting the best strategy for a true difference of at least 15%.

Results

More patients in arm A (76%) than arm B (64%) achieved ≥1/3 overall pain reduction even after controlling for baseline factors (gender, baseline pain). Group A reported fewer side effects than group B; constipation 52.8% vs. 66.7%; nausea: 27.8% vs. 44.4%; drowsiness: 44.4% vs. 55.6%; confusion: 16.7% vs. 27.8%; itching: 8.3% vs. 19.4%.

Conclusions

Both strategies effectively controlled neuropathic pain, but according to the adopted selection design arm A is preferable to arm B for pain control.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00637975

Beyond the traditional definition of breakthrough pain: an observational study

INTRODUCTION

Breakthrough pain (BTP) is traditionally defined as a transitory pain flare in opioid-treated patients with chronic background pain. This definition has, however, been challenged in recent years. This study aimed to analyze BTP prevalence in different pain conditions.

METHODS

This was a prospective, non-interventional, observational study conducted from June to September 2011 in two Italian pain treatment reference centres. Consecutive patients aged >18 years with oncological or non-oncological pain were eligible for this study; background pain was acute/ subacute (<3 months) or chronic (>3 months). The characteristics of pain were evaluated by means of a structured interview by physicians, and patients were asked to complete a dedicated clinical study form. The following outcomes were assessed: chronic pain duration (in patients with chronic pain), BTP prevalence, and number and severity of daily BTP episodes. All outcomes were assessed in four populations of patients with: (a) chronic oncological pain; (b) chronic non-oncological pain; (c) non-chronic oncological pain; (d) non-chronic non-oncological pain. The correlation between BTP and gender was also investigated.

RESULTS

Of 1,270 patients with chronic pain, 1,086 had non-oncological pain (85.5%). Most patients (68.6%) with non-oncological pain were female (P = 0.001). Pain duration was significantly longer in non-oncological pain versus oncological pain groups (P = 0.002). BTP prevalence was lower in non-oncological patients (P < 0.001). No differences were reported in terms of number and severity of daily BTP episodes. BTP was more frequent in females with non-oncological pain (P = 0.04). Females had a significantly higher pain severity (P = 0.02) than males.

CONCLUSION

BTP is frequently reported in patients who do not have BTP according to the traditional definition. BTP frequency and severity is similar in oncological and non-oncological pain.

[French clinical guidelines for prevention of perianaesthetic dental injuries: long text]

INTRODUCTION

Dental injuries represent the most common claims against the anaesthesiologists. Dental lesions are frequent complications of orotracheal intubation and major causal factors are, firstly, preexisting poor dentition, and, secondly, difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The aim of this work was to prioritize propositions for prevention in perianaesthetic dental injury and for care in case of dental trauma.

METHOD

A GRADE consensus procedure consisting of three rounds was conducted. A purposively selected heterogeneous panel (n=15) of experts, comprising 10 practitioners in anesthesiology, one practitioner who is jurist and anaesthesiologist, two practitioners in maxillofacial surgery, and two practitioners in dentist surgery. In cases where the data did not appear conclusive, recommendations were based on the consensus opinion of the board members. The guidelines represent the best current evidence based on literature search and professional opinion.

RESULTS

The entire panel completed all three rounds and 31 plus six propositions were written for adult and paediatric clinical practice in anaesthesiology, respectively. The experts highlight the interest of preoperative visit for minimizing dental injuries: the practitioner must identify risk factors for difficult intubation and ventilation, describe precisely patient's preoperative dental condition, including upper incisor most commonly involved teeth in dental trauma. Patients have to be informed by practitioner for risk dental injury and anaesthesiology staff must choose his anesthesia protocol before the induction of intubation narcosis, avoiding insufficient anaesthesia and lack of experience by the anaesthesiologist. The choice of accurate proceeding during laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation and extubation for example, can aid in the prevention of dental injury, reduce the number of claims and the cost of litigation process.

DISCUSSION

These guidelines delineate an approach for the prevention of perianaesthetic dental trauma and for the immediate or urgent care in case of perianaesthetic dental injury.

Comparison of intrathecal bupivacaine and ropivacaine with different doses of sufentanil

BACKGROUND

Spinal bupivacaine produces a complete anaesthetic block of a longer duration than ropivacaine, which leads to a potentially increased risk of failure. A combination of sufentanil to ropivacaine may improve the block's reliability.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients, scheduled for varicose vein stripping or the tension-free vaginal tape procedure, were allocated to receive double-blindly, spinal bupivacaine 10 mg (Group 1) or ropivacaine 10 mg without (Group 2) or with sufentanil 2.5 mcg (Group 3), 5 mcg (Group 4). Sensory block was tested with pinprick and motor block was evaluated with the Bromage scale until full recovery. The primary endpoint was to compare the duration of sensory block evaluated by regression to S2.

RESULTS

In comparison with bupivacaine, ropivacaine produced a shorter duration sensory block (median at 68, 90 and 120 min in groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively, vs. 150 min in Group 1) and motor block (median at 90, 98 and 120 min in groups 2, 3 and 4 vs. 180 min in Group 1). Motor blockade was significantly less important in patients receiving spinal ropivacaine (median values for the Bromage scale at 3 in groups 2, 3 and 4, vs. 1 in Group 1). Pruritus was significantly more frequent in patients receiving spinal sufentanil (Groups 3 and 4 vs. Groups 1 and 2).

CONCLUSION

Plain bupivacaine 10 mg has a longer recovery profile than the same dose of ropivacaine with or without sufentanil.

Prevalence of pain in elderly hospitalized patients

Several studies indicate that pain, although very common in the elderly, is under-treated, because it is considered as a concomitant effect of aging. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of pain among patients in eight Italian geriatric hospital departments, correlated to prescribed therapy. We enrolled 387 patients in the study, 367 of whom were evaluated. Each patient's recovery, co-morbidity, pain intensity, prescribed therapy, side effects, duration of pain, and efficacy of therapy were monitored during two 15-day periods from 15 July to end of August 2008, and from 1 October to 15 November 2008. The results of this study confirmed that hypertension, cardiopathic disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common pathologies, and that pain is present in 67.3% of those recovered in geriatric departments. In general, however, pain is not treated. Indeed only 49% of those with pain had any type of treatment, which was adequate for the pain intensity. In fact 74.5% of patients considered the therapy to be of low or no efficacy. These data demonstrate the presence of pain in a high percentage of elderly patients, which is either not treated, or treated inadequately. Controlling pain is essential in elderly patients in order to allow a normal life and an active role in family and society. The main conclusion is that pain is often poorly considered in the elderly, thus leading to a dangerous under-treatment. We want to underline the crucial clinical impact of such under-treatment in elderly patients.