Abstract
Background and Objectives: Currently, few studies have reported the effects of opioids during continuous epidural infusion (CEI) to control pain owing to herpes zoster (HZ). This study aimed to retrospectively compare the effectiveness of epidural opioids in the treatment of acute HZ pain. Materials and Methods: We reviewed medical records of 105 patients who were divided into two groups: R group (CEI with ropivacaine) and RF group (CEI with ropivacaine and fentanyl). Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the numeric rating scale (NRS) score for 6 months after the procedures. We compared the percentage of patients with complete remission in each group. We investigated the complication rates during CEI. Results: No significant differences in the NRS scores were observed between the two groups in the 6-month period. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for patients included in the complete remission was 0.6 times lower in the RF group than in the R group (95% confidence interval: 0.22–1.71, p = 0.35). The OR for complications during CEI was higher in the RF group than in the R group. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: No difference was observed in the management of HZ pain and the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia between the two groups. The incidence of complications tended to be higher in the RF group than in the R group.
Highlights
Neuropathic pain may be due to multiple pathologic conditions such as herpes zoster (HZ), diabetes, cancer, and radiculopathy and affects the quality of life of elderly patients [1]
We reviewed the medical records of 137 patients
The catheter could not be maintained for more than 10 days owing to side effects associated with continuous epidural infusion (CEI)
Summary
Neuropathic pain may be due to multiple pathologic conditions such as herpes zoster (HZ), diabetes, cancer, and radiculopathy and affects the quality of life of elderly patients [1]. Pain owing to HZ, caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), is known to be more prevalent in elderly patients with reduced T-cell immunity [2]. Continuous or intermittent zoster-associated pain can affect the quality of life and the ability to work. Effective treatments for zoster-associated pain (ZAP) are necessary to prevent negative sequelae. Few studies have reported the effects of opioids during continuous epidural infusion (CEI) to control pain owing to herpes zoster (HZ). This study aimed to retrospectively compare the effectiveness of epidural opioids in the treatment of acute HZ pain
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