Complete Pain Relief Research Articles

Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia Secondary to Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia: Review of the Literature and Illustrative Case

Classical trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain disorder characterized by severe, unilateral facial pain, often resulting from vasculonervous conflict. A less common cause of TN is vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD). Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the preferred surgical intervention for TN, but in case of VBD, the surgical procedure is more complex due to the aberrant vascular anatomy. This study aims to review the evidence on MVD for VBD-induced TN, and analyze operative challenges, efficacy, and postoperative outcomes. An illustrative case is also presented. We report on the case of a 62-year-old male with a 7-year history of right-sided TN affecting the maxillary (V2) and mandibular (V3) territories. The patient underwent MVD using the interposition technique, where Teflon sponges were placed between the basilar artery and the nerve. Postoperatively, the patient experienced complete pain relief without neurological deficits. At 12 months follow-up, the patient remained pain-free and off medications. We performed an extensive literature review using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences, highlighting the most relevant studies and findings on the topic. The literature review showed that, while MVD is effective in providing long-term pain relief in VBD-induced TN, the choice between interposition and transposition techniques remains debated. Interposition is easier to perform but may inadvertently increase nerve compression in some cases, whereas transposition offers more definitive decompression but carries higher technical risks. Our case and the available literature highlight the importance of individualized treatment planning in achieving optimal outcomes for patients with VBD-induced TN. Further research is needed to refine surgical techniques and minimize complications in this subset of TN patients.

Extent and pattern of symptom relief following surgical castration in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundAdvanced prostate cancer leads to many symptoms, notably bone pain and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTs); however, the degree and duration of pain relief, changes in LUTs severity and underlying factors associated with the extent of symptom relief remain inadequately understood. Surgical castration has proven effective in relieving both bone pain and urinary symptoms for metastatic prostate cancer patients.ObjectiveTo determine the extent and pattern of symptom relief in advanced prostate cancer patients following surgical castration at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study for a period of 6 months involving men with advanced Prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing surgical castration at MNH and followed them for 30 days. The international prostate symptoms score tool was used to assess changes in LUTs, and the pain rating scale was used for assessing changes in bone pain symptoms before and after surgery. Logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with complete bone pain relief.ResultsA total of 210 participants with a mean age of 72.3 years were recruited. The LUTS score showed a decrease of 7.1 points after surgical castration (95% CI: 6.4 to 7.7, p < 0.001). The bone pain score showed an absolute decrease of 39.8% (95% CI: 34.7 to 44.9, p < 0.001) after surgical castration, with more than half of the patients (111, 52.9%) reporting bone pain relief within the first two weeks. Among the factors associated with greater pain relief were being in a marital union (aOR 2.73, 95% CI: 1.26 to 5.89, p < 0.011). Normal BMI was also linked to pain relief in bivariate analysis (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.03 to 3.61, p < 0.035). Additionally, patients with severe bone pain before surgical castration were more likely to achieve complete pain relief compared to those with mild or moderate pain (odds ratio 8.32, 95% CI: 3.63 to 19.1, p < 0.001).ConclusionSurgical castration improves both bone pain and lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Notably, patients experiencing severe bone pain reported resolution of bone pain symptoms within the first and second weeks, respectively, indicating the prompt effectiveness of the surgery on these symptoms.

ФИЗИОТЕРАПЕВТИЧЕСКИЕ МЕТОДЫ В КОМПЛЕКСНОМ ЛЕЧЕНИИ И РЕАБИЛИТАЦИИ ПАЦИЕНТОВ C ХРОНИЧЕСКИМ ПАНКРЕАТИТОМ

The article analyzes the effectiveness of therapy for patients with chronic pancreatitis with the introduction of physiotherapeutic methods into the complex of measures. The study included 250 patients aged 28 to 67 years diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. In the main group, patients received an additional course of physiotherapy treatment in addition to standard therapy. In the control group, treatment was carried out according to standards in accordance with clinical recommendations. The obtained results of the study showed that the inclusion of physiotherapeutic methods in the complex therapy of patients with chronic pancreatitis contributes to the complete relief or weakening of pain, a reduction in the period of pain relief, dyspepsia, and helps improve the exocrine function of the pancreas.

Spinal Neuromodulation for Peripheral Arterial Disease of Lower Extremities: A Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis.

This long-term retrospective study evaluated the survival and amputation outcome of subjects who received neuromodulation therapy for the management of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The study reviews the health data of a single cohort of 51 patients who received spinal neuromodulation (spinal cord stimulation [SCS] or dorsal root ganglion stimulation [DRG-S]) for PAD from 2007 to 2022 in a single German center. Survival rate and major amputation rate were determined. Pain, quality of life, walking distance, and opioid usage were assessed before implantation (baseline), one, six, and 12 months (M) after implantation, and then annually (during a follow-up visit). Implant-related complications also were documented. In total, 51 patients (37 men [mean age 68.9± 10.2 years], 14 women [mean age (68.7± 14.6 years]) underwent SCS (n= 49) or DRG-S (n= 2) implantation owing to persistent ischemic pain. The follow-up mean years± SD is 4.04± 2.73. At baseline, patients were classified as Rutherford's category 3 (n= 23), category 4 (n= 15) or category 5 (n= 9). At 24 M, 42 of 47 patients did not require a major amputation after the implant. All the patients reported nearly complete pain relief from pain at rest. A total of 75% of patients were able to walk >200 m, and 87% of patients who used opioids at baseline were off this medication at 24 M. Overall, 93% of patients reported an improvement in their overall health assessment. These improved outcomes were sustained through years three to 10 for patients who have reported outcomes. Our single-center data support the efficacy of spinal neuromodulation for improvements in limb salvage, pain relief, mobility, and quality of life. The data also show that neuromodulative therapy has a long-term therapeutic effect in patients with chronic limb pain with Rutherford category 3, 4, and 5 PAD.

Motor improvement and spasms recovery with high-frequency 10kHz spinal cord stimulation in a patient with spastic tetraparesis: beyond pain relief.

To describe the clinical outcomes beyond pain relief of high-frequency spinal cord stimulation at 10kHz (10kHz SCS) in a patient with cervical myelopathy and drug-resistant chronic neuropathic pain with spastic tetraparesis. A patient with C3-C6 myelomalacia and spastic tetraparesis previously treated with decompressive laminectomy underwent implantation of 10kHz SCS for pain management through a trial procedure followed by permanent implantation. Due to the presence of epidural fibrotic scar tissue in the area of the previous C3-C6 laminectomy, the leads could not be implanted at the cervical level; therefore, the leads were positioned at the thoracic level. Data were collected during routine follow-up visits up to 15 months after implantation. Since the trialing phase and during all follow-up visits, along with complete pain relief in the lower limbs, a recovery from spasms was observed with an improvement in motor function. The patient recovered from a sensation of stiffness and difficulty in movement, with a significant decrease in muscle tone, regaining confidence in walking, and no longer needing assistance even for long walking distances. Although all disabling and painful symptomatology in the upper limbs instead did not ameliorate, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score decreased from 50% at baseline to 6%. To our knowledge, recovery from spasms and motor improvement in a spastic tetraparesis patient has never been reported before with 10kHz SCS and possibly this new stimulation paradigm may overcome some performance limitations of traditional low-frequency SCS (LF-SCS). Treatment eliminated spasms at the lower limbs but not at the upper ones, thus suggesting that the location of the epidural leads could affect outcomes.

A rare case of total hip replacement in an 11-year-old female: rehabilitation goals and challenges - a case report

This case report describes a unique pediatric patient, the first and youngest in India, who underwent total hip replacement (THR) for right ankylosed hip. Patient presented with preoperative musculoskeletal deformities, posing challenges for postoperative rehabilitation. This 11-year-old female presented with non-traumatic insidious right hip pain, limping, right hip flexion and abduction deformity. Patient was diagnosed with idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip through exclusion and clinico-radiological findings. Patient underwent surgery for ceramic-on-ceramic THR. Fusion of triradiate cartilage and epiphysis and Risser’s skeletal maturity staging were confirmed. Postoperative examination revealed right hip flexion and abduction deformity resulting in pelvic obliquity, which led to limb length discrepancy and functional scoliosis. There was increased anterior pelvic tilt, altering the gait pattern. Adhering to THR restrictions, rehabilitation strategies were tailored to restore normal pelvic orientation and address deformities through manual stretching of right hip abductor, tensor fascia latae, iliopsoas and rectus femoris. A left-sided shoe raise was also given. Lumbar segmental muscle activation, pelvic floor muscle training and gait training were crucial parts of the rehabilitation protocol. At ten-week, prodigious outcomes were achieved in the form of complete pain relief, complete correction of abduction and flexion deformity, normal pelvic alignment in the frontal plane and independent, stable full weight-bearing ambulation after two years of disabling ordeal suffering. However, minimal compensation of the anterior pelvic tilt persisted. Rehabilitation of this challenging patient with multiple deformities achieved excellent outcomes at ten-week post-rehabilitation. Thus, a tailored meticulous rehabilitation program can significantly improve quality of life.

Clinical application of ultrasound in thoracic medial branch block and thoracic cooled-radiofrequency ablation: Case report and literature review

Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure used to alleviate pain by destroying nerves with by radiofrequency-generated heat. Traditionally, radiofrequency ablation is preceded by diagnostic medial branch block injections, both guided by fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopic visualization of the superolateral aspect of the thoracic transverse process, where thoracic medial branch nerves occur, can be challenging due to anatomical complexities, especially in obese patients. We present a novel technique in which ultrasound was utilized in conjunction with fluoroscopy to perform medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation of the thoracic medial branch nerves. Case Report: First, two diagnostic thoracic medial branch nerve blocks were performed under ultrasound guidance. For the subsequent radiofrequency ablation, spinal needles were first advanced under ultrasound guidance to the target thoracic medial branch nerves. The position of those spinal needles was then used to guide the placement of cooled radiofrequency ablation probes using fluoroscopy. The patient reported 100% pain relief following the procedures. Discussion: We found that the addition of ultrasound allowed us to overcome the challenge of visualizing the superolateral aspect of thoracic transverse process under fluoroscopy alone. Direct ultrasound visualization allowed us to accurately and safely perform a thoracic medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation in a patient with poor fluoroscopic anatomy, as demonstrated by the patient’s complete pain relief after both medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation. We also theorize that our novel technique allows the provider to directly visualize the pleura, which could reduce the risk of severe pneumothorax associated with thoracic medial branch block and cooled radiofrequency ablation.

Efficacy and Safety Profile of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery in Classic and Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia

BackgroundTrigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating disease, with severe recurrent paroxysms of shock-like facial pain. Although pharmacotherapy may suffice in the majority of cases, a proportion of patients require surgical treatment. Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) represents a potential non-invasive alternative to surgery in these patients. MethodsWe retrospectively analysed all patients that underwent GKRS for classic/idiopathic TN between 2013 and 2023. Pain prior to GKRS was graded per the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain score, which was also used to define outcomes. “Complete pain relief (CPR)” was defined as a BNI pain score of I or II, while “Adequate pain relief (APR)” was defined as a BNI pain score of III, and “Failure” as a BNI score of IV or V. ResultsThe mean age of 70 patients (50 females and 20 males) was 47.4 ± 12.4 years. The mean follow-up was 51.3 ± 16.2 months. Although initial pain relief was achieved in 64 patients (91.4%), recurrence of pain at the latest follow-up occurred in 10 patients (14.3%). Overall, 41 patients (58.6%) achieved CPR, while 13 patients (18.6%) achieved APR. Multivariate analysis revealed that multiple prior failed procedures for TN predicted failure of pain relief. ConclusionGKRS is effective among patients with classic/idiopathic TN, with complete pain relief in 58.6% of patients, and adequate pain relief in 18.6% of patients. The most frequent complication is facial hypesthesia, affecting 38.6% of patients. Multiple prior failed procedures for TN significantly predict failure of pain relief at latest follow-up.

A Comparative Study of the Effect of Pericapsular Nerve Block (PENG) and Ultrasound-guided Fascia Iliaca Blocks on Postoperative Pain of Intertrochanteric Fractures

Background: Previous anesthesia blocks often failed to provide complete pain relief and were associated with weakness in the lower limbs, which hindered the essential mobility of patients undergoing hip surgery. Recently, the pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) has emerged as a promising alternative for managing postoperative pain following hip fracture surgery. Objectives: This study aimed to compare pain reduction between the pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) and the fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) in patients who underwent intertrochanteric hip surgery. Methods: This randomized, double-blind clinical trial included 41 patients who were randomly assigned to either the pericapsular block group (PENG) or the ultrasound-guided (FICB). The primary outcome was pain relief, assessed using the postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score. Secondary outcomes included the dose of morphine consumed, the time of first morphine request, patient satisfaction with analgesia, and complications. Results: There was no significant difference between the PENG and FICB groups in terms of pain scores at any of the studied intervals (P-value &gt; 0.05). The dose of morphine consumed and the time to the first morphine request were similar for both methods, with no significant difference (P-value &gt; 0.05). The complication rates were 15% for the PENG group and 8.3% for the FICB group, with no significant difference observed (P-value &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: Both pericapsular and fascia iliaca blocks effectively reduced postoperative pain in patients undergoing intertrochanteric fracture surgery. Additionally, both methods were well tolerated by patients with no significant complications. However, there was no evidence to suggest that PENG is superior to FICB in terms of pain reduction.

Percutaneous Balloon Compression Guided by a Compression-Time Effect in Trigeminal Nerve Branches.

Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) is an important treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Establishing the duration of balloon compression involves a tradeoff between outcome and postoperative complications. We aimed to explore the effect of the duration of balloon compression on the numbness response in areas innervated by the branches of the trigeminal nerve. Thirty-three patients with TN were included as an exploratory cohort, and the response area and compression time to the onset of facial numbness were recorded intraoperatively. Seventy-six patients with TN were then randomly divided into experimental (EG) and control groups (CG) for validation. The EG was treated with balloon compression times adjusted to reflect the compression-time effect observed in the initial investigation, whereas the CG was treated with a standardized compression time of 180 s. Patients were followed up postoperatively for pain relief and facials to verify the reliability of the effect. We found that the mean compression time to numbness in the region innervated by the ophthalmic meridian (V1) was 89.09 ± 8.99 s; by V1 and the maxillary nerve (V2), 123.52 ± 7.97 s; and by V1, V2, and the mandibular nerve (V3), 181.33 ± 10.29 s. All 76 patients used to verify the effect had complete relief of pain, and the EG had significantly less numbness than the CG. In PBC, with the extension of balloon compression time, the numbness response of each branch of the trigeminal nerve appears in a certain order. This effect can guide PBC in mitigating complications while ensuring efficacy.

Renal autotransplant as a definitive treatment for nutcracker syndrome: A multicenter retrospective study

ObjectiveNutcracker syndrome is a rare condition that involves mechanical compression of the left renal vein, leading to chronic and debilitating left flank pain. The etiology of the pain is misdiagnosed frequently, and patients usually require long-term opioid use to manage their pain. Multiple therapeutic options for nutcracker syndrome have been described in the literature but the reports are limited by small numbers of patients, and the lack of convincing data demonstrating consistently improved outcomes. Here we report the largest series to date of patients undergoing renal autotransplantation for the treatment of nutcracker syndrome. MethodsWe performed a multicenter retrospective cohort review of patients 105 patients with nutcracker syndrome who underwent renal autotransplantation as a primary or salvage therapy. ResultsDuring the overall study period, 93.1% of patients treated with autotransplantation had durable, complete flank pain relief at 12 months with both open and robotic surgical approach. After autotransplantation, a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of patients using opioids from 48.6% to 17.0% was demonstrated at 12 months. In those patients using opioids before autotransplantation, a statistically significant decrease in morphine milligram equivalents was demonstrated from an alarming 68.9 ± 15.0 per day to 25.0 ± 11.02 morphine milligram equivalents per day. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that renal autotransplantation, as a primary treatment or a salvage treatment, in patients with nutcracker syndrome provides durable pain relief and a marked decrease in chronic opioid use regardless of surgical approach.

Symptomatic Response After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Symptomatic Gallbladder Polyps: A Patient Questionnaire.

Aim To assess the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in relieving the biliary type symptoms in patients with gallbladder polyps (GBPs) and to determine the positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of abdominal ultrasound (US) for the pre-operative detection. Methods The data were retrieved from our tertiary hepatobiliopancreatic (HPB) center database for all patients who had an LC as a treatment for symptomatic GBPs between 2013 and 2022. The pre-operative US and postoperative histology reports were reviewed.Patients were contacted and asked to fill in a questionnaire using the Accurx® software (Accurx UK) asking them about the degree of symptom relief following their surgery. Subsequently, the responses were correlated with polyp size, and the data collected was used to determine the PPV and NPV of the US examination for the identification of GBPs. Results Seventy patients had GBPs reported on pre-operative US and/or postoperative histology reports. Thirty-six patients (51.4 %) replied to our questionnaire. Twenty-four patients (66.6 %) reported complete relief of pain post-operatively, eight (22.2%) had a significant improvement of symptoms but still had ongoing mild discomfort, two (5.5%) are still experiencing discomfort which has not reduced following their cholecystectomy and two patients (5.5%) were unsure of the degree of improvement. Overall, 89 % of the patients reported a complete or major improvement in their symptoms after LC. Nine patients with putative GBPs on their pre-operative US had negative final histology while 26 patients whose initial US report showed only gallstones (GSs), had GBPs confirmed by their histology report. The prevalence of GBPs in our snapshot cohort is 21.6%, with a PPV of US of 83.02%, an NPV of 90.37%, and an accuracy for detecting GBPs of 89.16%. Conclusion Although LC continues to be the gold standard for the management of symptomatic gallstone disease, assessing the benefit of symptomatic GBPs is presently lacking. This study has demonstrated that the majority of patients with symptomatic GBPs experience a complete resolution or major improvement of their symptoms following surgery. Furthermore, a significant number of patients undergoing surgery for putative GSs will have GBPs demonstrated following histological examination, suggesting that these two conditions either coexist or the pre-operative assessment by US is not sufficiently reliable. Randomized controlled trials are needed to define the cohorts who require surgery or are most likely to benefit.

Long-term clinical outcomes of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for pancreatic duct stone treatment in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for pancreatic stones (P-ESWL) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are the preferred therapeutic approaches for painful chronic pancreatitis (CP) with pancreatic stones. This study aimed to report the short- and long-term outcomes following P-ESWL and ERCP in a large cohort with CP. Patients with painful CP and pancreatic stones >5 mm in size, who underwent P-ESWL and subsequent ERCP between March 2011 and June 2018, were included in this retrospective-prospective mixed observational study. The total stone clearance rates were recorded. All patients were followed up until the end of March 2024, with the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, pain type, quality-of-life scores and other relevant information recorded. A total of 2071 patients underwent P-ESWL, and 93.1% of them subsequently underwent ERCP during the study period. Patients were followed up for an average of 11.8 years from the onset of CP and 6.7 years from the first P-ESWL procedure. Complete stone clearance was achieved in 73.7% of the patients. At the end of the follow-up period, 70.1% of the patients achieved complete pain remission. Significant pain type conversion and lower VAS scores were observed in the patients after treatment. Quality-of-life scores and body mass indices increased after P-ESWL and ERCP. P-ESWL and ERCP are effective and minimally invasive treatments for pancreatic stones in patients with painful CP. Most patients achieved complete pain relief, and pain-type conversion was common after treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05916547).

Rectus Sheath Blocks for Umbilical Hernia Reductions in the Emergency Department: A Case Series.

Rectus sheath blocks have been used for decades in the operating room for analgesia following umbilical surgical procedures. We present the first reported case series of a rectus sheath block used in the emergency department (ED) for the reduction of an umbilical hernia. Four patients presented to the ED for painful, non-reducible umbilical hernias. An ultrasound-guided bilateral rectus sheath block was used in all four patients with complete pain relief and an easy hernia reduction. Rectus sheath blocks are an excellent addition to a multimodal analgesic regimen in periumbilical pain and painful procedures. This block is easy to perform and implement for pain control in umbilical hernias in an ED setting.

Cystoductojejunostomy for pseudocyst associated with chronic pancreatitis

Pseudocyst is frequently associated with chronic pancreatitis (CP). We describe our experience of managing seven patients for pseudocyst associated with CP by bile duct preserving pancreatic head resection (BDPPHR) and cystoductojejunostomy. 88 patients were operated on for chronic pancreatitis between April 2021 till May 2023 out of which 7 patients underwent BDPPHR and cystoductojejunostomy for pseudocyst associated with CP. Key steps of surgery include meticulous dissection with exposure of the pancreatic head to tail, head excision up to the posterior capsule with laying open of the pancreatic duct till the tail and reconstruction incorporating pancreatic duct (PD) and pseudocyst to a single loop of jejunum. All seven patients were successfully treated with BDPPHR and cystoductojejunostomy. Mean operative time and mean blood loss was 478 minutes and 450 ml respectively. Mean hospital stay was 4.5 days. On follow-up at a one-year minimum, all patients had complete pain relief. In patients with pseudocyst associated with CP, surgery preferably needs to address both the pseudocyst and the underlying chronic pancreatitis to improve the quality of life. A combined anastomosis to the PD and cyst may be termed as cystoductojejunostomy.

Calcaneo-Achilles Allograft Shoulder Interposition Arthroplasty, Novel Technique for Superior Escape Post Hemiarthroplasty for Failed rTSA: A Case Report

Background: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasties have become common in orthopaedics to treat osteoarthritis in patients with rotator cuff deficiency. Complications of revision hemiarthroplasty from reverse total shoulder arthroplasty include anterosuperior escape, which is defined as a deficiency of the coracoacromial arch that allows the humeral head to migrate proximally. A 58-year-old woman, with superior escape and massive destruction of the shoulder suspensory complex after hemiarthroplasty conversion from a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA), presented to our clinic with chronic, disabling shoulder pain. Materials and Methods: The patient underwent a novel salvage procedure with a calcaneo-achilles allograft fixed to the remaining glenoid through the proximal humeral shaft. The goal of this procedure was to preserve as much function in the patient’s arm as possible and reduce her chronic shoulder pain. Results: The patient continued to follow up in our clinic for 1 year postoperatively. She noted complete relief of pain by 6 weeks postoperatively. She also denied any neurologic symptoms in her operative extremity. Her patient-reported outcomes indicated major improvement in her preoperative symptoms. Conclusion: A calcaneal-achilles bone tendon allograft interposition arthroplasty may be a viable solution for failed conversion of rTSA to hemiarthroplasty or problems of end-stage arthritis with superior escape and destruction of the shoulder girdle.

Fluid therapy is associated with lower care quality and higher symptom burden during last days of life of patients with cancer – a population-based register study

BackgroundParenteral fluid (PF) therapy of patients in end-of-life (EOL) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between PF, quality of the EOL care process and symptom burden in dying cancer patients, using a population-based approach.MethodsThis was a nationwide retrospective register study of all adult cancer deaths with documented information on PF in the last 24 h of life as reported to the Swedish Register of Palliative Care during a three-year period (n = 41,709). Prevalence and relief of symptoms during the last week of life as well as EOL care process quality indicators were assessed in relation to PF in those patients who had a documented decision to focus on EOL care (immediately dying, n = 23,112). Odds ratios were calculated, adjusting for place of death (hospital vs. non-hospital).ResultsPF was administered to 30.9% of immediately dying patients in hospitals compared to 6.5% outside of hospitals. PF was associated with a higher likelihood for breathlessness and nausea. In patients screened for EOL symptoms with a validated instrument, PF was inversely associated with the likelihood of complete relief of breathlessness, respiratory secretions, anxiety, nausea and pain. Several palliative care quality indicators were inversely associated with PF, including EOL conversations and prescriptions of injectable drugs as needed. These associations were more pronounced in hospitals.ConclusionsParenteral fluid therapy in the last 24 h of life was associated with inferior quality of the EOL care process and with increased symptom burden in imminently dying cancer patients.

Near total head resection of pancreas in patients with chronic pancreatitis - Outcome of a novel surgical technique

BackgroundChronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by debilitating pain which affects patients' quality of life. Early surgical intervention has been shown to mitigate pain and prevent a decline in quality of life. The present study evaluated the impact of bile duct and duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection (BDPPHR), an innovative technique, on pain relief, functional outcomes, postoperative morbidity, and mortality in patients with CP. MethodsBetween March 2019 and July 2022, a total of 37 patients underwent bile duct and duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection (BDPPHR) for pain relief in patients with CP. Post-operative outcomes were assessed by Izbicki pain score, exocrine insufficiency, endocrine insufficiency, and return to work. The safety of the surgical procedure was determined by evaluation of postoperative morbidity and mortality as per Clavien-Dindo scores. ResultsBDPPHR showed a significant reduction in Izbicki pain scores with 30 (81 %) patients experiencing complete or partial pain relief up to 18 months of follow up. 32(86 %) patients ceased narcotic use by the end of the 18-month follow-up period. 33 (89 %) patients were able to resume regular work at the end of 18 months. There were no significant alterations in both exocrine and endocrine statuses post-surgery. The median duration of hospital stay was 4.5 days (3-11). Major complications occurred in 2 (5 %) patients. There was no post-operative mortality. ConclusionBDPPHR is a novel and safe technique of near total head resection which results in very good pain relief in 81 % of patients.

The role of vitamin D in amelioration of oral lichen planus and its effect on salivary and tissue IFN-γ level: a randomized clinical trial

Background and objectivesOral lichen planus (OLP) is a common, prevalent, immune-mediated, inflammatory disease affecting both the skin and oral mucosa and is considered one of the potentially malignant diseases. Since OLP is regarded as an immunologically mediated disease, some studies suggest the use of vitamin D (VD) for its management as it exhibits immune-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, as well as anti-proliferative, pro-differentiative, and anti-angiogenic effects. VD has demonstrated a suppressive effect on TH1 pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ while augmenting the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. At the same time, VD deficiency is a prevalent public issue. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of VD as an adjunct to steroids in the management of VD-deficient OLP patients as well as its inhibitory effect on IFN-γ through measurement of salivary and tissue IFN-γ levels in OLP patients.MethodsA total of 40 patients with ulcerative or erythematous OLP, diagnosed according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) modified criteria for OLP, were randomly allocated into one of the two study groups to receive either systemic steroids in addition to VD supplements (Group A) or systemic steroids only (Group B). Blood samples were collected for the measurement of serum VD level (SVDL) using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to involve only patients with VD deficiency or insufficiency (≤ 30 ng/ml). Clinical evaluation of the lesion involved objective signs and subjective symptoms. Also, changes in salivary and tissue INF-γ levels (in pg/mL and pg/mg, respectively) were determined using the ELISA technique. All parameters were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. The clinical pharmacy team devised a checklist to record all team interventions. The interventions were categorized into six domains, including drug interactions and/or adverse reactions, medication dose issues, drug selection issues, support with medication history, patient-related concerns, and suggestions for dental medication.ResultsAfter one month of treatment, a significantly greater number of patients in group A showed complete pain relief and resolution of clinical lesions, as well as a greater number of patients showing a reduction in the clinical severity of lesions than in group B (P = 0.005). Also, there was a statistically significant reduction in average VAS pain scores and clinical scores in group A compared to group B after 1 month of treatment (P = 0.001 and 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant greater reduction in salivary and tissue IFN-γ levels in group A than in group B (P ≤ 0.001 and 0.029, respectively) after 1 month of treatment.ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests a significant preventive and therapeutic role for VD as an adjunct to standard therapies indicated for OLP lesions. These protective and therapeutic functions are achieved through the suppressive effect of VD on pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IFN-γ. Also, salivary IFN-γ appears to be a valuable prognostic marker for monitoring the progression of OLP. In addition, the inter-professional collaboration between dentists and clinical pharmacists helped to deliver complete, patient-centered primary care and ensured the quality of the medications included in patient kits, thus improving patient treatment and management. Nevertheless, further studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-ups, and standardized designs may still be needed.

Pain prevalence and pain relief in end-of-life care – a national registry study

BackgroundDespite pain control being a top priority in end-of-life care, pain continues to be a troublesome symptom and comprehensive data on pain prevalence and pain relief in patients with different diagnoses are scarce.MethodsThe Swedish Register of Palliative Care (SRPC) was used to retrieve data from 2011 to 2022 about pain during the last week of life. Data were collected regarding occurrence of pain, whether pain was relieved and occurrence of severe pain, to examine if pain differed between patients with cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia. Binary logistic regression models adjusted for sex and age were used.ResultsA total of 315 000 patients were included in the study. Pain during the last week of life was more commonly seen in cancer (81%) than in dementia (69%), heart failure (68%) or COPD (57%), also when controlled for age and sex, p < 0.001. Severe forms of pain were registered in 35% in patients with cancer, and in 17–21% in non-cancer patients. Complete pain relief (regardless of pain intensity) was achieved in 73–87% of those who experienced pain, depending on diagnosis. The proportion of patients with complete or partial pain relief was 99.8% for the whole group.ConclusionsThe occurrence of pain, including severe pain, was less common in patients with heart failure, COPD or dementia, compared to patients with cancer. Compared with cancer, pain was more often fully relieved for patients with dementia, but less often in heart failure and COPD. As severe pain was seen in about a third of the cancer patients, the study still underlines the need for better pain management in the imminently dying.Trial registrationNo trial registration was made as all patients were deceased and all data were retrieved from The Swedish Register of Palliative Care database.