Use Of Analgesics Research Articles

Persistent Opioid Use After Hospital Admission From Surgery in New Zealand: A Population-Based Study.

Persistent opioid use (POU) is common after surgery and is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. There have been no population-based studies exploring POU in opioid-naïve surgical patients in New Zealand (NZ). This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for POU in opioid-naïve patients undergoing surgery in all NZ hospitals. We included all opioid-naïve patients who underwent surgery without a concomitant trauma diagnosis and received opioids after discharge from any NZ hospital between January 2007 and December 2019. Patients were considered opioid naïve if no opioids had been dispensed to them or if they did not have a prior diagnosis of an opioid-use disorder up to 365 days preceding the index date. The primary outcome was the incidence of POU, defined a priori as opioid use after discharge between 91 and 365 days. We used a multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors for POU. We identified 1789,407 patients undergoing surgery with no concomitant diagnosis of trauma; 377,144 (21.1%) were dispensed opioids and 260,726 patients were eligible and included in the analysis. Of those included in the final sample, 23,656 (9.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0%-9.2%) developed POU. Risk factors related to how opioids were prescribed included: changing to different opioid(s) after discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.21; 95% CI, 3.04-3.38), receiving multiple opioids on discharge (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.29-1.45), and higher total oral morphine equivalents (>400 mg) (aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.23-1.45). Conversely, patients who were coprescribed nonopioid analgesics on discharge had lower odds of POU (aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.95). Only small differences were observed between different ethnicities. Other risk factors associated with increased risk of POU included undergoing neurosurgery (aOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.83-2.24), higher comorbidity burden (aOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.75-2.07), preoperative nonopioid analgesic use (aOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.60-1.71), smoking (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.35-1.54), and preoperative hypnotics use (aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.28-1.42). Approximately 1 in 11 opioid-naïve patients who were dispensed opioids on surgical discharge, developed POU. Potentially modifiable risk factors for POU, related to how opioids were prescribed included changing opioids after discharge, receiving multiple opioids, and higher total dose of opioids given on discharge. Clinicians should discuss the possibility of developing POU with patients before and after surgery and consider potentially modifiable risk factors for POU when prescribing analgesia on discharge after surgery.

Management of anesthesia in elderly patients, special considerations and challenges

Introduction: Anesthesia management in elderly patients presents distinct challenges due to physiological changes related to aging. Comorbidities, physical frailty and increased risk of postoperative complications are important aspects to be considered. Methods: Systematic reviews of the literature and analyzes of clinical and experimental studies that addressed the management of anesthesia in elderly patients were carried out. Articles published in English, Spanish and Portuguese were selected. The keywords used were "anesthesia in the elderly", "preoperative assessment", "anesthetic techniques", "intraoperative monitoring", "postoperative pain control" and "prevention of complications". Results: Comprehensive and individualized preoperative assessment was identified as crucial for identifying and treating comorbidities and physical frailty in elderly patients. The choice of the appropriate anesthetic technique depends on the type of surgery and the patient's clinical conditions. Careful monitoring during anesthesia, including blood pressure, heart rate, oxygenation and capnography, is essential to detect and intervene early on hemodynamic and respiratory changes. Postoperative pain control in the elderly requires an individualized approach, with appropriate use of analgesics and regional blocks. Complication prevention strategies, such as optimizing hydration, glycemic control, early mobilization and appropriate use of medications, are essential to reduce the risk of delirium, infection and cognitive dysfunction. Conclusion: Anesthesia management in elderly patients requires an individualized and comprehensive approach, taking into account physiological changes related to aging and associated comorbidities. Careful preoperative assessment, appropriate choice of anesthetic technique, strict intraoperative monitoring, postoperative pain control and prevention of complications are essential to ensure a safe perioperative period and successful recovery in the elderly. Keywords: anesthesia in the elderly, preoperative assessment, anesthetic techniques, intraoperative monitoring, postoperative pain control, prevention of complications.

Buprenorphine Use in the Military Health System (MHS).

The CPG's updated recommendation is supported by buprenorphine's lower risk of overdose and misuse.(1) In comparison to full mu-opioid agonists, buprenorphine possesses a superior safety profile with respect to respiratory depression, even in non-dependent individuals, and fatal overdose, when not combined with other sedating medications.(2-5) Purpose/hypothesis: This project identifies prescribing trends of buprenorphine for chronic pain before and after implementing two pharmacy interventions. Procedures/data/observations: Patient charts were reviewed before and after removal of a drug authorization key in the electronic health record and development of an educational presentation for providers. In the pre-intervention group, 19 patients were included and 13 patients in the post-intervention group. Prescriptions for buprenorphine decreased by 31.5% from the pre-intervention to post-intervention period, but three new prescriptions were started after interventions. Adverse reactions were the cause of the decrease in prescriptions, most commonly nausea and vomiting. This data may be valuable to providers as they expand their knowledge about buprenorphine's analgesic use. This is a longitudinal project and identifying barriers that may limit prescribing of buprenorphine may be beneficial for future educational interventions.

Distinct Trajectories of Prescription Opioid Exposure in Pregnancy and Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes.

The aim of this study was to identify distinct trajectories of prescription opioid exposure in pregnancy-encompassing both medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and opioid analgesics-and explore their associations with birth outcomes. Trajectories were identified using latent class analysis among Wisconsin Medicaid-insured live births 2011-2019. Logistic regression estimated associations between these trajectories and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), small for gestational age, preterm birth, birth weight, and gestational age. Of 138,123 births, 27,293 (19.8%) had prenatal opioid exposure. Five trajectory classes were identified: (1) stable MOUD treatment (5.8%), (2) inconsistent MOUD treatment (3.9%), (3) chronic analgesic use (4.2%), (4) intermittent analgesic use (7.8%), and (5) low-level use of MOUD and analgesics (78.3%). NOWS incidence per 1000 infants was 667 for class 1 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 21.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.89, 26.41), 570 for class 2 (aOR: 15.35, 95% CI: 12.49, 18.87), 235 for class 3 (aOR: 19.42, 95% CI: 15.93, 23.68), 67 for class 4 (aOR: 6.23, 95% CI: 4.99, 7.76), and 12 for class 5 (aOR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.02). Classes 1-4 had elevated risk of small for gestational age, preterm birth, lower birth weight, and shorter gestational age, with no significant differences among these classes. Among individuals with opioid use disorder, stable MOUD treatment was associated with higher birth weights and longer gestational ages compared to inconsistent treatment, despite higher odds of NOWS. Early initiation and consistent MOUD treatment may improve birth weight and gestational age. For pregnant individuals with opioid use disorder using chronic analgesics, transition to MOUD may promote birth outcomes.

Exploring Analgesic Use Patterns Among Cancer Survivors With Chronic Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

To explore cancer survivors' historical and current use of analgesics for chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). 142 post-treatment cancer survivors who received neurotoxic chemotherapy and were experiencing moderate to severe CIPN. Participants completed the Treatment-Induced Neuropathy Assessment Scale at baseline and reported all analgesics used to manage CIPN. Frequency of historical or current prescription analgesic use for chronic CIPN was described and stratified by CIPN pain severity. At baseline, 31% of participants reported historical use of analgesics for CIPN and 46% of participants were currently using analgesics for CIPN. Gabapentin was the most frequently used analgesic, historically (20%) and currently (34%), and duloxetine was used less frequently (6% historical use, 10% current use). Many participants with severe pain (59%) reported using analgesics for CIPN. Duloxetine, the first-line treatment for chronic CIPN pain, was used less frequently than gabapentin, a common prescription analgesic for neuropathic pain. Further research is needed to determine strategies to promote the implementation of evidence-based CIPN treatments in clinical practice.

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool in Patients With Cancer.

Assessment of breakthrough pain is essential for adequate management of cancer pain. The Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool (BAT) has been proven to be a brief, multidimensional, and reliable questionnaire for the assessment of breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP). Currently, there are no validated instruments in Spanish that allow assessing BTCP. The objective of this study was to validate the Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool - Spanish (BAT-S) version of the BAT in adult patients with cancer. The BAT-S was tested in a prospective observational study conducted in adult patients with cancer-related pain and treated in a comprehensive cancer center in Mexico. We conducted a forward-backward translation and cross-cultural equivalence test in the Spanish language. The psychometric properties in patients with cancer were assessed using factor analysis, reliability, and validity. To assess reliability, the Kappa test and the intra-class correlation coefficient were used. For consistency, Cronbach's alpha test was used. Seventy patients participated in the study; 140 questionnaires were analyzed. The Spanish translation was well accepted by participants. Reliability was comprised between 0.746 for "use of analgesics" and 1.00 for "pain location." Thirteen of the 14 items had values above 0.8, and 12 above 0.9. Cronbach´s alpha coefficient was 0.7. This study confirms that BAT-S is a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess breakthrough pain in Mexican patients with cancer. This newly validated tool may be used to facilitate clinical management of primarily Spanish-speaking patients with breakthrough cancer pain. This study describes a prospective observational study to assess the validity and reliability of the Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool in its Spanish version. The results support the use of this newly validated tool to facilitate clinical management of primarily Spanish-speaking patients with breakthrough cancer pain.

233. UTILITY OF SINGLE TRANSHIATAL CHEST DRAINAGE AFTER MINIMALLY INVASIVE OESOPHAGECTOMY: A PROPENSITY-SCORE MATCHED STUDY OF FEASIBILITY

Abstract Background The routine placement of intercostal chest drains remains common practice following minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIO). Chest drains may contribute to increased post-operative pain and morbidity. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of transhiatal chest drain with intercostal chest drain. We analysed use of analgesia, length of hospital stay, and postoperative pulmonary morbidity following MIO. Methods This was a retrospective case-control study of patients undergoing elective MIO at a quaternary centre in Western Australia between September 2016 and September 2023. To reduce confounding, propensity score matching was performed. All patients were identified from a prospectively maintained database. In patients undergoing MIO with exclusive transhiatal drainage, a 19 French Blake’s drain was advanced through the hiatus into the right pleural cavity and positioned adjacent to the anastomosis. Results Thirty patients were included in the study, fifteen of whom had exclusively transhiatal drain placement. Mean total daily oral morphine dose equivalent was significantly lower in the transhiatal drain group (58mg+/-35.8) compared with intercostal drain group (100.8mg+/-64.0) on day 1 (p=0.04). There is no statistically significant difference between the total oral morphine use on days 3 (p=0.44) and 6 (p=0.97). No significant difference was observed in reintervention rate (p=1.00), length of stay (p=0.78) or postoperative pulmonary complications (p=1.00). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that transhiatal drain placement following MIO is associated with a reduction in post-operative pain and no increase in pulmonary complications or length of stay. Larger, prospective studies are needed to further evaluate the safety of single transhiatal chest drain placement following MIO.

Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Acute Post-Hepatectomy Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To investigate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block in the treatment of shoulder pain following hepatectomy. A randomized controlled trial. We conducted a single-center, randomized controlled trial. Forty-four patients with shoulder pain scores of at least 5 were randomly assigned to two groups: the treatment group, which received 0.5% ropivacaine (5mL) combined with dexamethasone (5 mg) (n=22), and the control group, which received normal saline (5mL) (n=22). The intervention was performed in the postanesthesia care unit after shoulder pain was identified by using the visual analogue scale. The shoulder pain was re-evaluated 15minutes after intervention. The incidence of effective pain relief, defined as at least 75% reduction in pain intensity, was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included shoulder pain intensity within 2 days after surgery, the timing of the first rescue analgesia, total additional analgesic use, arterial oxygen saturation, intervention-related adverse reactions, and patient satisfaction regarding shoulder pain. The incidence of effective pain relief was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group (15 (68.2%) vs 2 (9.1%), P<0.001). The interscalene brachial plexus block not only prolonged the time to first analgesic request (P <0.001), but also reduced the number of analgesic requests (P <0.001). In the comparison between groups, arterial oxygen saturation was lower in the control group than that in the treatment group, attributed to the use of sufentanil for remedial analgesia (92.4% vs 94.5%, P=0.014). Interscalene brachial plexus block can effectively relieve post-hepatectomy shoulder pain without clinically significant hypoxemia.

Sphenopalatine ganglion block for pain control after septoplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Septoplasty corrects a deviated nasal septum (DNS) and improves nasal obstruction. Sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) effectively reduces postoperative pain after septoplasty, but conclusive evidence is still lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively evaluate the analgesic efficacy of SPGB in septoplasty patients. We systematically searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CENTRAL from inception to April 10th, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed using the RoB-2 tool. The primary outcomes were postoperative pain scores, analgesic consumption, surgery duration, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and patient satisfaction. Continuous data were pooled as mean difference (MD), and dichotomous data as risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using STATA software. Additionally, trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted. Three RCTs with 180 patients were included. Two RCTs had a 'low risk' of bias, while one RCT had 'some concerns'. The SPGB group had significantly lower postoperative pain within 24 hours compared to controls, particularly after particularly after 1-2 hours (MD = -1.85), 4-6 hours (MD = -2.02), 12 hours (MD = -2.14), and 24 hours (MD = -2.36) TSA confirmed the conclusive evidence. Analgesic use was significantly reduced in the SPGB group. No significant differences were observed in surgery duration or PONV rates between groups. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the SPGB group. SPGB demonstrates efficacy and safety in managing postoperative pain in patients undergoing septoplasty for DNS.

Sublingual sufentanil tablet system (SSTS) versus a single shot peri-nervous injection of ropivacaine for the management of postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty: a single-center randomized trial.

For several years, ropivacaine has been the standard-of-care for establishing postoperative femoral nerve block in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) setting and is still widely in use but new approaches such as the patient-controlled administration of sublingual sufentanil tablets system (SSTS) seem to offer good clinical results. Our aim is to compare the SSTS to single shot peri-nervous injection of ropivacaine (single shot) after TKA in terms of effectiveness in pain management and of time to recovery. A total of 165 patients undergoing TKA were enrolled. Eighty-four patients were randomly allocated in the SSTS group and 81 patients in the single shot group. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate performance of Timed Up and Go test. Secondary objectives were to measure the length of stay, NRS pain scale, the adherence to the prescribed plan, the joint mobility, the frequency of rescue analgesic use, side effects and patients' satisfaction. Of all patients of the single shot group, 64 were withdrawn from the study as they unable to achieve pain control; only one patient was withdrawn from the SSTS group. Times for the "Timed Up and Go" test on the 3rd postoperative day were 8.4 ± 1.6 and 11.8 ± 3.6 in the SSTS group (n = 83) and single shot group (n = 17), respectively (p < .001). SSTS provides better pain management when compared to peri-nervous ropivacaine single shot injection after TKA.

Phenobarbital as an adjunctive agent for sedation in pediatric intensive care unit patients: A single-center, retrospective study from Colorado

Abstract Background: Pediatric patients require pharmacological management of pain and agitation associated with mechanical ventilation. Pain and agitation may be refractory to opioids and alpha-2 agonists, prompting the use of adjunctive analgesics and sedatives with alternative mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of phenobarbital as an adjunctive agent for refractory agitation in critically ill, mechanically ventilated pediatric patients. Subjects and Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review at a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at a pediatric academic medical center in America between 2016 and 2021. Children aged 2 months to 18 years old were admitted to the PICU were mechanically ventilated and received phenobarbital for adjunct sedation. Sixty-three patients had phenobarbital dosing data evaluated, and the 38 patients who were not receiving continuous neuromuscular blockade were included in the primary and secondary outcome analysis of time within the goal sedation score. Descriptive statistics was used to assess baseline characteristics and the primary outcome. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to evaluate secondary outcomes. Results: Patients spent significantly more time within the goal sedation score range after phenobarbital compared to before phenobarbital. The median number of rescue sedative boluses, morphine equivalents (MEs), and benzodiazepine equivalents (BZDE) significantly decreased 2 days after the first phenobarbital dose compared to the 2 days before the first phenobarbital dose. Conclusions: The use of phenobarbital as an adjunct sedative was associated with a statistically significant increase in time spent in the goal sedation score range and decrease in ME, BZDE, and concomitant sedative boluses.

Multimodal Analgesia and Small Opioid Prescriptions are the New Standard in Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Survey of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Membership

BackgroundThe purpose of this survey study was to assess the current analgesia and anesthesia practices used by total joint arthroplasty surgeon members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) as well as identify changes in practice made by AAHKS members over time. MethodsA survey of 37 questions was created and approved by the AAHKS Research Committee. The survey was distributed to all 3,243 practicing adult reconstruction surgeon members of AAHKS in May 2023. Results were compared to a nearly identical survey sent out to all board-certified adult reconstruction surgeon members of AAHKS 5 years previously in November 2018. ResultsThere were 527 responses (16%) to the survey. Since 2018, the mean number of opioid pills prescribed after total joint arthroplasty has declined significantly from 49 to 32 pills after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and from 44 to 18 pills after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The use of multimodal analgesics in addition to opioids has also increased over the past 5 years from 74 to 93%. The most common medications utilized include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (98%), acetaminophen (80%), and gabapentinoids (32%). A majority of surgeons (78%) still use a spinal for TKA and THA. However, there has been an increase in the number of surgeons using peripheral nerve blocks for TKA from 69% in 2018 to 84% in 2023. The routine use of periarticular injection or local infiltration anesthesia in THA and TKA has also increased over the past 5 years from 80 to 86%. ConclusionsSince 2018, there has been increased adoption of multimodal analgesia and anesthesia, and improved consensus regarding the optimal regimen among surveyed arthroplasty surgeon members of AAHKS. The number of opioid pills prescribed after THA and TKA has declined significantly over the past 5 years.

Pharmacokinetics of Injectable Meloxicam and Buprenorphine in the Naked Mole-Rat (Heterocephalus glaber).

Unique characteristics of the naked mole-rat (NMR) have made it increasingly popular as a laboratory animal model. These rodents are used to study many fields of research including longevity and aging, cancer, circadian rhythm, pain, and metabolism. Currently, the analgesic dosing regimens used in the NMR mirror those used in other rodent species. However, there is no pharmacokinetic (PK) data supporting the use of injectable analgesics in the NMR. Therefore, we conducted 2 independent PK studies to evaluate 2 commonly used analgesics in the NMR: meloxicam (2 mg/kg SC) and buprenorphine (0.1 mg/kg SC). In each study, blood was collected at 8 time points after subcutaneous injection of meloxicam or buprenorphine (0 [predose], 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h). Three NMRs were used per time point for a total of 24 animals per PK study. Plasma concentrations of meloxicam were highest between 0.5 and 1 h postinjection. Levels remained above the extrapolated dog and cat therapeutic threshold levels (390 to 911 ng/mL) for at least 24 h. Plasma concentrations of buprenorphine were highest between 0.25 and 0.5 h postinjection. Levels remained above the human therapeutic threshold (1 ng/mL) for up to 21 h. No skin reactions were seen in association with injection of either drug. In summary, these data support dosing meloxicam (2 mg/kg SC) once every 24 h and buprenorphine (0.1 mg/kg SC) once every 8 to 12 h in the NMR. Further studies should be performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of these drugs by correlating plasma concentrations with postoperative pain assessments.

Increasing Caudal Block Utilization to Promote Opioid Stewardship in the NICU Population: A Quality Improvement Project

BackgroundRegional anesthetic techniques are safe and effective in reducing pain and the need for opioid analgesia but may be underutilized in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. We developed an opioid stewardship pathway aimed at reducing the use of opioid analgesia in neonates by increasing caudal block utilization from a baseline of 50%–90% within 18 months. MethodsWe used control charts to track intra-operative opioid utilization in morphine milligram equivalents per kilogram (MME/kg) and immediate post-operative extubation rates. Unrelieved pain (defined as two consecutive Neonatal Pain, Agitation & Sedation Scale (NPASS) scores >/ = 4), post-operative opioid use, and reintubation within 24 h were tracked as balancing measures. We ran sample statistical analysis comparing the outcome and balancing measures in surgeries with and without caudal block. ResultsThere were 125 surgeries in the pre-intervention and 48 in the post-intervention group. Caudal block utilization increased to 63%, while intra-operative opioid utilization decreased (0.230 vs 0.416 MME/kg), and extubation rates increased (75% vs 70%). There were no increases in unrelieved pain or post-operative opioid utilization. Caudal block was associated with decreased intra-operative opioid use (0.000 vs 0.366 MME/kg, p < 0.001) and increased extubation rates (83% vs. 59%, p < 0.001) with no increase in unrelieved pain (23% vs. 22%, p = 0.75) or post-operative opioid use (0.151 vs 0.000 MME/kg, p = 0.35). No patients required reintubation within 24 h. ConclusionThe modest increase in caudal block utilization is associated with a reduction in intraoperative opioid use and increased postoperative extubation rates without compromising pain control. Level of EvidenceLevel III.

Association Between English Proficiency and Postoperative Pain Management for Adult Patients Undergoing Gynecologic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

PurposeTo determine if language-based disparities in postoperative pain management exist in women undergoing gynecologic surgery. DesignA retrospective cohort study was performed. MethodsThe electronic medical records were reviewed of individuals, aged 18 to 80, who underwent an abdominal hysterectomy between 2016 and 2021 at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center. A random sample of 100 patients, 50 categorized as English proficient and 50 categorized as having limited English proficiency (LEP), were compared. The primary outcomes were the number of quantitative pain assessments and the total dose of opioid given in oral morphine milligram equivalents. The secondary outcomes were the average pain scores, the number of qualitative pain assessments, postanesthesia care unit length of stay, regional block use, patient-controlled analgesia, or opioid use after the first 24 hours. Linear and generalized linear modeling was used to assess the relationship between English proficiency and the outcomes of interest. FindingsAll patients received at least 1 pain assessment while in the postanesthesia care unit (range 2 to 25). There was no significant difference in the number of objective pain assessments or the total dose of opioid given between the groups. There were no significant differences in any of the secondary outcomes between the groups. On subgroup analysis, the presence of a documented bedside interpreter did not result in a significant difference in endpoints. Fewer LEP patients received patient-controlled analgesia (34% LEP vs 58% English proficient), though the difference did not reach statistical significance. ConclusionsLanguage barriers may complicate care and impact postoperative recovery. In our population of women in a high-volume, urban, level I, trauma center, there were no observed differences in postoperative pain management practices in patients with LEP compared with English-proficient patients. Standardized nursing protocols may contribute to more equitable care. Ongoing investigations in the identification and prevention of language-related disparities in perioperative care are warranted.

Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized to Community Hospitals With Malignant Brain Tumors and Factors Associated With Discharge Destination.

Our main objective was to compare the characteristics and hospital outcomes of patients with primary and metastatic brain malignancies and to investigate the associated factors related to hospital outcomes. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 1628 patients with brain malignancies from 8 community hospitals between 2017 and 2022 who were identified using International Classification of Disease codes. A stepwise logistic regression was used to identify demographics and clinical characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality and home discharge. The median age was 65 years old, with 72.5% of patients having metastatic brain malignancies. After 7.2 days of hospital stay, 49.2% were discharged home, and 102 patients expired during hospitalization. Increased age, medical coverage by Medicare, hemiplegia or paraplegia, lower initial hemoglobin level, increased length of stay, and the use of electrolyte replacement, antibiotics, laxatives, heparin, and anticonvulsants were associated with a decreased likelihood of discharge to home. No medical insurance, Medicaid insurance coverage, comorbidities of cerebrovascular disorder, the need to stay in the intensive care unit, patient safety indicator events, and the use of antibiotics, oral analgesics, and ipratropium-albuterol were associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality. We identified several predictor variables that delineate differences between both mortality risk and home discharge in patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. Understanding these predictor variables can be helpful in improving the acute and post-acute care of this population.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of neurofeedback mindfulness in chronic migraines

Chronic migraine is a debilitating headache disorder that is associated with excessive analgesic use. As the long-term use of analgesics could cause additional headaches due to medication overuse, there is a need to probe efficient nonprophylactic alternatives and migraineurs’ long-term adherence to such possible treatments. This protocol investigates the integration of neurofeedback and mindfulness which are the two common nonpharmacological therapies for migraines. We offer the use of portable EEG headbands for easy home-based data collection and consistent data access from researchers. In order to evaluate the efficacy of this recommended intervention, this is a protocol for a randomized control trial with a waitlisted group and an intervention group consisting of a daily attention task. The protocol presents important criteria which should be checked for consistency in longitudinal data collection from adults with chronic migraine.

Effect of Alpha-Blocker on Distal Ureteric Calculi: A Comparative Study

Introduction Silodosin is a recently introduced selective alpha- blocker in Medical Expulsive Therapy for the management of distal ureteric calculi. The efficacy and safety of silodosin compared to tamsulosin are controversial, however the former is considered to be more effective. The objective of the study is to assess the efficacy and safety of silodosin compared to tamsulosin in the treatment of ureteral stones less than 10mm.  Methods This prospective randomized study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Navodaya Medical College, Raichur, Karnataka. Sixty patients were included in the study who presented with abdominal or loin pain and were diagnosed with unilateral solitary distal ureteric stone measuring &lt;10mm with no complications. Participants in Group I received Tablet Silodosin 8mg OD until the passage of stone or up to two weeks, and Group II received Tablet Tamsulosin 0.4mg OD until the passage of stone or up to two weeks. Analgesic Tablet Diclofenac sodium 50mg was given to both patients on demand.  Results A total of 60 patients were included in the study, divided into 30 patients in each group of Silodosin and tamsulosin respectively. In Group I (silodosin), out of 30 patients, 25 patients expelled the calculus, whereas in Group II (tamsulosin), out of 30 patients, 15 patients expelled the calculus. Group I showed a significantly higher rate of expulsion, with a p-value of 0.005. Stone expulsion time was notably shorter in Group I compared to Group II, with averages of 4.73 days versus 6.33 days (p=0.009). Additionally, analgesic use during the medical expulsive therapy was lower in Group I, averaging 8.25 compared to 4.13 (p=0.0001) in the tamsulosin group. Significant differences were observed in the outcomes such as stone expulsion time, and analgesic requirement. However, no significant differences were found when comparing the groups based on age, gender, stone size, and side of the ureter involved. The 20 patients who failed the medical management underwent ureterorenoscopy with 100% clearance. 3 patients in Group II experienced orthostatic hypotension, and zero patients experienced any side effects in Group I. Compared to tamsulosin, silodosin provides significantly higher stone expulsion rates, fewer colic episodes, and shorter stone expulsion duration than tamsulosin.

In vitro studies support clinical trials showing platelet-rich fibrin-mediated local delivery of antibiotics improves outcomes in impacted mandibular third molar surgery.

Our previous clinical observations showed that platelet rich fibrin (PRF) can be used to deliver antibiotics to attenuate postoperative complications after unilaterally impacted mandibular third molar surgery (IMTMS). In order to begin understanding the mechanism involved in the beneficial in vivo effects of PRF-mediated delivery of antibiotics, in vitro studies were performed, which showed that PRF preparations containing amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or clindamycin significantly inhibited the growth of S. aureus bacteria. In our previous study, comparisons were made between control and treated groups. However, since variations among individual patients could possibly affect the results, the current study included patients with bilaterally symmetric impacted mandibular third molars, allowing us to compare control and antibiotic treatment within each patient. The effects of PRF preparations containing amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or clindamycin on IMTMS was tested in 60 clinical cases. Antibiotic-injected PRF treatment after bilaterally IMTMS resulted in significantly reduced pain, less use of analgesics, and reduced swelling and trismus compared to the control group (PRF without antibiotics) confirming our previous results after unilaterally IMTMS. The in vitro results support the hypothesis that in vivo delivery of antibiotics using PRF produces therapeutic effects after IMTMS by attenuating bacterial infection and inflammation.

Percutaneous plasma disc decompression through a lower surgical approach for the treatment of cervicogenic headache in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: A retrospective cohort study.

Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) is the most common type of cervical spondylosis, frequently accompanied by cervicogenic headache (CEH). Percutaneous plasma disc decompression (PPDD) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) are minimally invasive techniques targeting cervical intervertebral discs or cervical nerves, and have been proven to be effective methods for treatment of CSR and CEH. The present study aimed to evaluate clinical efficacy and practicality of percutaneous plasma disc decompression (PPDD) via a lower surgical approach for the treatment of cervicogenic headache (CEH) and upper extremity radicular pain by analyzing clinical outcomes of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) undergoing PPDD and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF). Clinical data of patients with CSR who received PPDD (n=79) or PRF (n=92) at Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (Shanghai, China) and Jiashan County People's Hospital (Jiaxing, China) from January 2022 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The surgical site and procedure, bleeding volume, preoperative analgesic use and upper extremity symptoms, history of nerve block treatment and duration of disease were recorded, as well as relevant postoperative complications (infection, hematoma, nerve injury). The therapeutic effects [NRS (numeric rating scale) and NDI (neck disability index) score, and CEH remission rate at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment] of both surgical methods were investigated using the telephone follow-up. CEH remission rates at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery in the PPDD group were significantly higher than in the PRF group (78.8 vs. 43.5, P=0.016; 84.8 vs. 34.8, P=0.003 and 75.8 vs. 26.1%, P=0.005, respectively). The PPDD group showed higher NRS scores than the PRF group at 1 month after surgery (3 vs. 2, P<0.0001) and lower NRS scores than the PRF group at 6 months after surgery (2 vs. 3, P<0.0001). NDI scores in the PPDD group were significantly lower than those in the PRF group at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery (15.49 vs. 20.05, P=0.002; 16.06 vs. 20.10, P=0.003 and 9.90 vs. 13.80, P=0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in postoperative complication rate between the two groups (P>0.999). PPDD could significantly relieve CEH symptoms and upper extremity radicular pain in patients with CSR treated via a lower surgical approach and PPDD was more effective than PRF for long-term CEH remission and pain alleviation.