Doses Of Opioid Analgesics Research Articles

Effect of opioids on cancer survival in patients with chronic pain: a propensity score-matched population-based cohort study

BackgroundThe impact of opioid analgesic use before cancer diagnosis on survival in patients with chronic pain is unclear. Therefore, we designed a propensity score-matched population-based cohort study to compare overall and cancer-related survival of patients with chronic pain who received long-term opioid analgesic treatment with that of those who did not receive such treatment. MethodsWe included patients with chronic pain and categorised them into the following two groups according to their analgesic use: patients with cancer and chronic pain who were prescribed ≥180 defined daily doses of opioid analgesics per year >3 months before cancer diagnosis comprised the case group, and those who were prescribed <28 defined daily doses of opioid analgesics per year before cancer diagnosis comprised the control group. Patients in both groups were matched at a ratio of 1:5. The primary outcome was overall long-term survival. ResultsThe matching process yielded a final cohort of 1716 patients (286 and 1430 in the case and control groups, respectively) who were eligible for further analysis. The adjusted hazard ratio for overall survival in patients receiving long-term opioids was 3.53 (95% confidence interval: 3.03–4.11; P<0.001). ConclusionsLong-term opioid analgesic use before cancer diagnosis might be associated with poor overall survival in patients with chronic pain compared with such patients who did not receive long-term opioid analgesics.

Comparison Between Preoperative Methadone and Buprenorphine Use on Postoperative Opioid Requirement: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and competes for these receptors with other opioids in vitro. Whether patients on buprenorphine maintenance require high doses of opioid analgesics to attain adequate postoperative pain control has not been determined. We evaluated differences in acute postoperative opioid consumption and pain burden between patients taking buprenorphine and those taking methadone preoperatively. A retrospective review of medical records of 928 patients, of whom 195 were on buprenorphine and 733 were on methadone preoperatively, was performed. Among methadone and buprenorphine patients, 615 and 89, respectively, continued to receive the medications postoperatively. Buprenorphine patients were compared with methadone patients for the first 48 hours postoperatively with regard to acute opioid dose requirements (morphine milligram equivalents [MME] above their baseline buprenorphine and methadone doses) and time-weighted average (TWA) pain scores (using targeted maximum likelihood estimation). Opioid dose requirements for 48 hours postoperatively were 150 (22 to 297) (median [interquartile range]) and 220 [90 to 360] MME for buprenorphine and methadone patients, respectively. Preoperative buprenorphine was associated with a 59.9% lower postoperative MME (95% confidence interval: 46.6%-69.8%, P<0.0001) compared with methadone. Postoperative TWA pain scores for the first 48 hours were 5.0±2.7 (mean±SD), and 5.4±2.3 for buprenorphine and methadone patients, respectively. Preoperative buprenorphine was associated with a 0.37-point lower TWA pain score (95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.61, P=0.002) compared with methadone. Preoperative buprenorphine use was associated with >50% reduction in postoperative opioid dose requirement and a statistically significant, though clinically unimportant, reduction in acute pain burden in comparison to methadone. The study is limited by several important factors such as the exclusion of patients requiring intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, small number of patients were on higher dose of buprenorphine, and a large percentage of methadone patients were not on a stable dose of methadone yet.

Prescribing and Administering Opioid Doses Based Solely on Pain Intensity: Update of A Position Statement by the American Society for Pain Management Nursing

The foundation of safe and effective pain management is an individualized, comprehensive pain assessment that includes, but is not limited to, the intensity of pain if the patient is able to report it. An unforeseen consequence of the widespread use of pain intensity rating scales is the practice of prescribing specific doses of opioid analgesics based solely on specific pain intensity ratings. Many factors in addition to pain intensity influence opioid requirements. To date there is no research demonstrating that a specific opioid dose will relieve pain of a specific intensity in all patients or even in the same patient at different times. The official position of the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) maintains that the practice of prescribing doses of opioid analgesics based solely on pain intensity should be prohibited because it disregards the relevance of other essential elements of assessment and may contribute to untoward patient outcomes.

Administration of Intravenous Dexmedetomidine and Acetaminophen for Improved Postoperative Pain Management in Primary Palatoplasty.

Suboptimal pain management after primary palatoplasty (PP) may lead to complications such as hypoxemia, and increased hospital length of stay. Opioids are the first option for postoperative acute pain control after PP; however, adverse effects include excessive sedation, respiratory depression, and death, among others. Thus, optimizing postoperative pain control using opioid-sparing techniques is critically important. This paper aims to analyze efficacy and safety of combined intravenous (IV), dexmedetomidine, and IV acetaminophen during PP. Review of a cohort of patients who underwent PP from April 2009 to July 2018 at a large free-standing children's hospital was performed, comparing patients who received combined IV dexmedetomidine and acetaminophen with those who did not receive either of the 2 medications. Efficacy was measured through opioid and nonopioid analgesic dose and timing, pain scores, duration to oral intake, and length of stay. Safety was measured by 30-day complication rates including readmission for bleeding and need for supplementary oxygen. Total postoperative acetaminophen (P = 0.01) and recovery room fentanyl (P < 0.001) requirements were significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group. Length of stay, oral intake duration, pain scores, total postoperative opioid requirements, and complications rates trended favorably in the study group, though differences did not reach statistical significance. Intraoperative IV dexmedetomidine and acetaminophen during PP provides safe and effective perioperative pain control, resulting in statistically significant decreased need for postoperative acetaminophen and fentanyl. Larger studies are necessary to determine if other trends identified in this study may be significant.

Cutoff Values for Providing the Ideal Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia According to the Intensity of Postoperative Pain-A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background and Objectives: The cutoff values were analyzed for providing the ideal intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) that could reduce rescue analgesics or antiemetics requirements, based on the grades of postoperative pain intensity (PPI). Materials and Methods: PCA regimens of 4106 patients were retrospectively analyzed, and they were allocated into three groups with low, moderate, and high PPI grades (groups L, M, and H, respectively) based on numeric rating scores obtained 6 h postoperatively. Opioid and non-opioid analgesic doses were converted into fentanyl-equivalent doses (DOSE-FEN-OP and DOSE-FEN-NONOP, respectively). The primary endpoint was the cutoff values of these parameters. Results: With respect to the PCA settings to reduce rescue analgesic and antiemetic requirements, group L required a background infusion rate (BIR) of 1.75–3 mL/h, bolus volume of 0.5–1.25 mL, and lockout interval of ≤12.5 min. Group M required a BIR of 1.75 mL/h, bolus volume of 0.5–1.75 mL, and lockout interval of ≤5 min. Group H required a BIR of 1.75 mL/h, bolus volume of 0.5 mL, and lockout interval of ≤5 min. In assessments of the analgesic doses to reduce rescue analgesic requirement, the DOSE-FEN-OP was at least 950 μg of fentanyl regardless of group, while the DOSE-FEN-NONOP was ≥250 μg, ≥550 μg, and ≥700 μg for the L, M, and H groups, respectively. In assessments of the analgesic doses to reduce rescue antiemetic requirement, DOSE-FEN-OP was ≤950 μg for groups L and M and ≤850 μg for Group H, while DOSE-FEN-NONOP was ≤50 μg, ≤450 μg, and ≤700 μg for groups L, M, and H, respectively. Conclusion: The ideal PCA for reduction in rescue analgesics or antiemetics can be achieved by adjustment of PCA settings and drug dosages carefully with these cutoff values depending on the expected grades of PPI. Especially, the ideal PCA can be provided by adjusting the lockout interval and bolus volume rather than BIR and by applying smaller bolus doses and shorter lockout intervals with an increasing PPI grade.

Anesthetic Support of Aldosteroma Surgery

Anesthetic provision of retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for hormone-active adrenal tumors still requires overcoming certain difficulties. This is due to significant metabolic and functional disorders that persist even after thorough preoperative preparation. In addition, the endovideoscopic intervention itself requires certain conditions, each of which is fraught with additional stress on the circulatory and respiratory systems. The objective: to develop a technique for anesthetic management of aldosteroma surgery. Subjects and Methods. The study involved 57 patients (42 women and 15 men aged from 38 to 62 years) who underwent retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for aldosteroma. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the method of anesthesia. In Group 1 ( n = 30), the operation was performed under combined anesthesia with low-flow desflurane inhalation as a basis and perioperative analgesia with systemic opioid administration. Patients of Group 2 ( п = 27) were operated under anesthesia with low flow desflurane inhalation as a basis in combination with 0.35% ropivacaine solution blockade of the fascial space of the erector spinae plane muscle on the surgery side (ESP erector spinae plane). In order to optimize myoplegia, Group 2 was divided into three subgroups (A, Б, and В), 9 patients each. In patients of subgroup A, muscle relaxation was achieved by continuous administration of rocuronium bromide at the dose of 0.4 mg • kg-1 • h-1 throughout the operation. In subgroups Б and В, muscle relaxation was achieved by bolus administration of rocuronium bromide intravenously at the dose of 0.15 mg * kg -1 * h -1 . Patients from subgroup A underwent no decurarization. In subgroup Б, for the purpose of decurarization, atropine sulfate 0.01 mg/kg and proserin 0.05 mg/kg were administered. In subgroup Б, sugammadex was administered at the dose of 4 mg/kg. Neuromuscular conduction was monitored, parameters of central and peripheral hemodynamics, anesthesia adequacy, quality of postoperative analgesia, and frequency of postoperative complications were assessed. Results. Combined anesthesia with desflurane with ESP blockade allows achieving the required level of its depth, providing adequate analgesia in the postoperative period, avoiding the use of high doses of opioid analgesics after surgery and thereby preventing the occurrence of complications associated with their use. The use of rocuronium bromide in patients with aldosteroma provides complete muscle relaxation at all stages of the video endoscopic intervention. The use of sugammadex makes the myoplegia technique manageable, which allows by the end of the operation to restore neuromuscular conduction, transfer to spontaneous breathing and activate the patient, which to a certain extent ensures the prevention of postoperative complications. Conclusions. The use of ESP block with combined anesthesia is an effective method of perioperative analgesia for retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for aldosteroma, and also reduces the consumption of opioid analgesics and reduces the number of postoperative complications associated with their use. Continuous infusion of rocuronium bromide without deteriorating the quality of the neuromuscular block significantly reduces the consumption of the relaxant, and the use of sugammadex makes myoplegia controllable which is very important for patients with aldosteroma.

Serious health-related suffering and palliative care in South Asian countries.

South Asia, with a population of 1.79 billion, has close to 9.9 million individuals experiencing serious health-related suffering (SHS). South Asia accounts for 10.23% of the world's cancer incidence. The prevalence of cancer mortality in the region is 68.44%, significantly higher than the world average of 59.74%. This poor outcome highlights the need to focus on SHS in the region. This review was undertaken to assess the current status of palliative care inequities in the region and to guide future action. Using morphine-equivalent doses of opioid analgesics (excluding methadone) per cancer death as a proxy measure for access to palliative care, the International Narcotics Control Board data in 2020 show poor access to palliative care. Less than 4% of those in need are able to access palliative care in India, whereas in Afghanistan only 0.2% have access. Inappropriate end-of-life care (EOLC) and catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditure compound the problem. The solutions involve the introduction of national programs for palliative care, demonstration of culturally appropriate best practices as proof of concept, favourable legislation for medical opioid access, community participation, engagement of civil society to improve awareness, inclusion of palliative and adding EOLC to medical education and need-based research. http://links.lww.com/COSPC/A30.

Electroacupuncture for post-thoracotomy pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundThoracotomy is an invasive surgical procedure that produces intense postoperative pain. Electroacupuncture has been used to induce analgesia in various situations, including after surgery. The aim of the following systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on post-thoracotomy pain.MethodsThe studies for the systematic review were searched using the following 9 databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE Complete, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Korean Medical Database (KMBASE), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), and OASIS, without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the inclusion criteria were selected. The quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and RevMan 5.3 was used for meta-analysis. The review protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) as CRD42019142157.ResultsEleven randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis was performed for two outcome measures: pain score 24 hours after surgery and total dose of opioid analgesics. A subgroup analysis was performed according to the control group: sham acupuncture and conventional analgesia group. Pain score 24 hours after surgery of electroacupuncture group showed a standard mean difference of -0.98 (95% CI: -1.62 to -0.35) compared to sham acupuncture. The standard mean difference was -0.94 (95% CI: -1.33 to -0.55) compared to conventional analgesia. The total dose of opioid analgesics of electroacupuncture group showed a standard mean difference values of -0.95 (95% CI: -1.42 to -0.47) compared to sham acupuncture. The standard mean difference was -1.96 (95% CI: -2.82 to -1.10) compared to conventional analgesia.ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that electroacupuncture might provide useful pain relieving effect on post-thoracotomy patients. However, due to low quality and high heterogeneity of existing data, further rigorously designed studies should be performed to confirm the safety and efficacy.

The Relationship between Higher Chronic Opioid Therapy Dose and Specific Personality Traits in Individuals with Chronic Pain.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between opioid use and specific personality traits among individuals with chronic pain stratified by morphine equivalent doses (MEQ). Design Observational cohort study. Setting. Chronic pain outpatient clinic in Canada (2017–2019). Patients. Participants were included if they (1) were at least 18 years old, (2) had been diagnosed with chronic pain (pain >3 months), and (3) were able to read and write in English. Interventions. None. Main Outcome Measures. Completion of the following outcome measures: Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Brief-Coping with Problems Experience 28-item, Brief Pain Inventory Short Form, CAGE-AID substance misuse screening tool, EuroQol-5D, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, and Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item. One-way analysis of variance compared outcomes between MEQ groups. Results 215 individuals (64.2% female) were included with a mean age of 52.7 ± 11.7 years and time since pain onset of 14.1 ± 10.2 years (range 1–45). There were no significant differences between MEQ groups with respect to sociodemographic and clinical health variables except for gender and employment status and time since pain onset. After controlling for gender, time since pain onset, and average pain severity, patients with MEQ 90+ mg had significantly higher scores for experiential avoidance and anxiety sensitivity in addition to increased pain interference, greater depressive and anxiety symptoms, more dysfunctional coping, and poorer QoL than those with MEQ 1–89 mg or MEQ 0 mg. Conclusions Compared to individuals using no or lower-dose opioids to treat chronic pain, those using high-dose opioids had higher scores on two maladaptive personality traits (i.e., anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance) which was associated with poorer mood, greater pain interference, lower quality of life, and dysfunctional coping. These maladaptive personality traits may help to explain how individuals with chronic pain utilize higher doses of opioid analgesics.

Do Relaxation Exercises Decrease Pain After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Pain after rotator cuff repair is commonly managed with opioid medications; however, these medications are associated with serious adverse effects. Relaxation exercises represent a potential nonpharmacologic method of pain management that can be easily implemented without substantial adverse effects; however, the effects of relaxation exercises have not been studied in a practical, reproducible protocol after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. (1) Does performing relaxation exercises after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) decrease pain compared with standard pain management medication? (2) Does performing relaxation exercises after ARCR decrease opioid consumption? (3) What proportion of patients who used the relaxation techniques believed they decreased their pain level, and what proportion continued using these techniques at 2 weeks? (4) Does performing relaxation exercises after ARCR affect shoulder function? During the study period, 563 patients were eligible for inclusion; however, only 146 were enrolled, randomized, and postoperatively followed (relaxation group: 74, control group: 72); 68% (384 of 563) of patients were not contacted due to patient and research staff availability. Thirty-three patients were unenrolled preoperatively or immediately postoperatively due to change in operative procedure (such as, only debridement) or patient request; no postoperative data were collected from these patients. Follow-up proportions were similar between the relaxation and control groups (relaxation: 80%, control: 81%; p = 0.90). The relaxation group received and reviewed educational materials consisting of a 5-minute video and an educational pamphlet explaining relaxation breathing techniques, while the control group did not receive relaxation education materials. Patients recorded their pain levels and opioid consumption during the 5 days after ARCR. Patients also completed the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score preoperatively and 2, 6, 13, 18, and 26 weeks postoperatively. Linear mixed models were created to analyze postoperative pain, opioid consumption measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), and shoulder function outcomes. A per-protocol approach was used to correct for patients who were enrolled but subsequently underwent other procedures. There was no difference in pain scores between the relaxation and control groups during the first 5 days postoperatively. There was no difference in pain scores at 2 weeks postoperatively between the relaxation and control groups (3.3 ± 3 versus 3.5 ± 2, mean difference -0.22 [95% CI -1.06 to 0.62]; p = 0.60). There was no difference in opioid consumption during the first 5 days postoperatively between the relaxation and control groups. The use of relaxation exercises resulted in lower 2-week narcotics consumption in the relaxation group than in the control group (309 ± 241 MMEs versus 442 ± 307 MMEs, mean difference -133 [95% CI -225 to -42]; p < 0.01). Sixty-two percent (41 of 66) of patients in the relaxation group believed the relaxation exercises decreased their pain levels. Fifty-two percent (34 of 66) were still performing the exercises at 2 weeks postoperatively. During the 6-month follow-up period, there was no difference in shoulder function between the relaxation and control groups. The preoperative administration of quick, basic relaxation exercises allowed patients to use appreciably lower opioid analgesic doses over the first 2 weeks after ARCR, without any worsening of pain scores. We consider this result promising but preliminary; it is possible that a more intense mindfulness intervention-the one we studied here was disseminated using only a 5-minute video-would deliver reductions in pain and further reductions in opioid usage. Level II, therapeutic study.

Early Bone Metastases are Associated with Worse Outcomes in Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma.

Outcomes of patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) with early bone metastases (eBM) vs no early bone metastases (nBM) have not thoroughly been described in the age of immuno-oncology. To compare survival and other clinical outcomes in patients with eBM and nBM. We used a multi-institutional database of patients with mUC treated with systemic therapy. Demographic, metastatic site, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Wilcoxon rank-sum, chi-square tests were performed. Survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method; multivariable Cox analysis was performed. We identified 270 pts, 67% men, mean age 69±11 years. At metastatic diagnosis, 27% had≥1 eBM and were more likely to have de novo vs. recurrent metastases (42% vs 19%, p < 0.001). Patients with eBM had shorter overall survival (OS) vs. those with nBM, (6.1 vs 13.7 months, p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, eBM independently associated with higher risk of death, HR = 2.52 (95% CI: 1.75-3.63, p < 0.0001). OS was shorter for patients with eBM who received initial immune checkpoint inhibitor vs platinum-based chemotherapy, (1.6 vs 9.1 months, p = 0.02). Patients with eBM received higher opioid analgesic doses compared to patients with nBM and received quantitatively more palliative radiation. Patients with mUC and eBM have poorer outcomes, may benefit less from anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and represent an unmet need for novel therapeutic interventions. Dedicated clinical trials, biomarker validation to assist in patient selection, as well as consensus on reporting of non-measurable disease are required.

SISTEMAS DE LIBERACIÓN PROLONGADA DE OPIOIDES: ANALGESIA Y DEPENDENCIA

The consumption of opioid analgesics has increased drastically in the last decades worldwide. This high consumption is linked with a surge in the number of opioid prescriptions for the treatment of chronic pain and a surge in opioid misuse and addiction. Opioid analgesics have a short duration of action, making necessary frequent administrations to provide extended analgesia. The use of prolonged-release formulations enables dosing intervals to be spaced out and drug blood levels to be stabilized, improving therapeutic compliance, and reducing the likelihood of developing addiction. However, these formulations contain higher doses of opioid analgesics which make them more susceptible to be manipulated. Hence, the most recent advances in pharmaceutical technology have been oriented towards the application of abuse deterrent technologies aiming to prevent their administration through alternative routes. Moreover, prolonged- release systems also play an essential role in the treatment of opioid addictions with the development of parenteral dosage forms capable of prolonging opioid release for months that help overcome one of the most important drawbacks in achieving treatment success, namely, patient compliance. We review herein the different prolonged-release opioid dosage forms currently approved in Europe and/or the United States for the treatment of pain and opioid dependence.

Management of pain treatment in the early postoperative period. Practice of using ketorolac. A clinical case

The current strategy of rational perioperative analgesia involves reducing the use of opioid analgesics and preventing associated side effects. Today it is known that the use of opioid analgesics can further lead to the development of hyperalgesia. Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is an adaptive response of the body in response to exogenous administration of opioids, the mechanisms of development of which are associated with the activation of the central glutamatergic system and the release of spinal dinorphins. In contrast, gabapentin, NSAIDs, and ketamine have opioid-preserving properties, reducing the number of opioid-associated side effects. Hyperalgesia is a condition that underlies the formation of chronic pain and develops regardless of the degree of postoperative wound repair.&#x0D; For the treatment of pain in the postoperative period, the main group of treatment agents are opioid analgesics, which are prescribed to 60% of patients. However, with severe pain, there is a need for opioids in doses that exceed the standard recommended. It is known that the tactics of increasing the dose of opioid analgesics leads to an increase in the frequency of adverse reactions: severe sedation, respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, intestinal paresis, dysfunction of the biliary and urinary systems, hallucinations. In order to reduce side effects, the doctor reduces the dose of opioids, which is accompanied by inadequate analgesia.&#x0D; Given the above, clinicians prescribe additional drugs of other drug groups that can enhance the analgesic effect of opioids. An important aspect is the ability to reduce the dose of opioids.&#x0D; Our data and data of other authors. Until recently, NSAIDs were rarely used in intensive care units, mainly in mild to moderate pain.

Too much or too little opioids to patients receiving opioid agonist therapy in Norway (2013\u20132017): a prospective cohort study

BackgroundDispensations of opioid analgesics to patients on opioid agonist therapy (OAT) may increase the risk of overdoses. The current study’s objectives are to investigate the dispensation rates and mean daily doses of dispensed opioid analgesics among patients who received OAT opioids in Norway during 2013–2017 and evaluate whether discontinuing OAT opioids affects the dispensed dose of opioid analgesics.MethodsInformation on opioids was collected from the Norwegian Prescription Database. Dispensation rates were calculated by dividing the number of patients who were dispensed at least one opioid analgesic by the number of patients who were dispensed an OAT opioid. We calculated the mean daily dose of opioid analgesics in oral morphine equivalents. The OAT opioid dose was defined as a ratio between the dispensed doses divided by the mean recommended dose. We used logistic regression to estimate the association between the dispensation of an opioid analgesic, a dose of OAT opioids, having chronic pain, and being on palliative care.ResultsA total of 10,371 patients were dispensed at least one OAT opioid during the study period. In 2017, 18% were dispensed an opioid analgesic with a mean daily dose of 29 mg of oral morphine equivalents. Being dispensed an opioid analgesic was associated with having chronic pain (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 3.2–4.2), being on palliative care (aOR: 6.1, 4.7–7.9), and receiving an OAT opioid dose below half of the recommended OAT dose (aOR: 1.7, 1.4–2.0). Similar results were seen in 2013–2016. The discontinuation of OAT opioids could increase the dose of dispensed opioid analgesics.ConclusionReducing the dispensation of opioid analgesics can be achieved by increasing the OAT opioid dose for patients on a low OAT dose, and by extending the period needed to taper off the OAT opioid dose at discontinuation.

Factors influencing the prescribed dose of opioid analgesics in cancer patients.

The dose of opioids prescribed for cancer pain does not always correlate with the actual pain severity. However, there is little evidence to explain this observation. In the present study, we sought to determine factors that influence the dose of opioid analgesics. A total of 227 patients who were administered opioids between August 2012 and May 2016 and later expired within the Department of Palliative Care at Ashiya Municipal Hospital were included, and the following variables were examined: age, sex, type of cancer, Verbal Rating Scale before and after the administration of the maximum pre-scribed dose of opioids, type of opioids and route of administration, blood test results, pain severity, and use of adju-vants. Data were analyzed using step-wise multiple linear regression. Median of the maximum prescribed dose of opioids, expressed in oral morphine equivalent, was 68.6, 60.0, and 39.2 mg for patients aged <65, 65-74, and ≥75 years, respectively. Step-wise multiple linear regression analysis further demonstrated that an increase in age by 1 year decreased the maximum prescribed dose of opioids by 0.98-fold (p = 0.006). Other factors that influenced the maximum prescribed dose of opioids included the use of analgesic adjuvants (1.91-fold, p = 0.001), oral administration (0.54-fold, p = 0.016), and elevated level of bilirubin (0.95-fold by 0.1 mg/dL increase, p = 0.013). Opioids examined in the study are metabolized in the liver by cytochromes P450 or by glucuronidation. Thus, if reduced drug metabolism causes the reduction in the maximum prescribed dose of opioids, liver function may contribute to this effect. Based on our findings that old age is associated with a lower prescribed dose of opioids, future studies should examine additional variables included in laboratory tests in more detail and measure hepatic blood flow to determine the cause of this as-sociation.

Emerging clinical phenotype of bone metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC): Association of early osseous metastases (EOM) and outcomes.

e17007 Background: Outcomes of patients (pts) with mUC with EOM have not thoroughly been described in the age of immuno-oncology. We hypothesized that EOM is associated with worse outcomes when compared to pts with non-osseous metastases (NOM). Methods: We used a multi-institutional database of pts with mUC who received systemic treatment (trt) between March 2005 and August 2019, to assess survival and palliative outcomes of pts with EOM vs NOM at the time of metastatic diagnosis (met dx). Wilcoxon rank-sum and chi-square tests were performed. Survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method, Cox regression analysis was performed. Results: We identified 270 pts, 72% men, mean age 67 ± 11 years, 28% never smokers. At met dx, 27% (n = 72) had ≥ 1 EOM; these pts were more likely to have de novo metastases vs. those with recurrent metastases (42% vs 19%, p &lt; 0.001). Pts with EOM were more likely to have a change or stop in 1st line trt due to clinical progression (30.6% vs 15.7%, p = 0.006), and received fewer total lines of systemic trt, median of 1.0 (1.0-5.0) vs. 2.0 (1.0-8.0), p = 0.05. Pts with EOM had shorter median overall survival (OS) vs. those with NOM, (6.1 vs 13.7 months, p &lt; .0001), HR = 2.79 (95% CI:1.95-3.97, p &lt; .0001). Median OS was shorter for pts with EOM who received 1st line immune checkpoint inhibitor (n = 14) vs platinum-based chemotherapy (n = 43), (1.6 vs 9.1 months, p = 0.003). Pts with EOM received higher opioid analgesic doses at the first and last oncology outpatient visits compared to pts with NOM with mean morphine milligram equivalent (MME) dose of 60 ± 91 vs 28 ± 65 at first visit, p = 0.004, and 171 ± 214 vs. 94 ± 229 at last visit, p &lt; 0.001. Conclusions: The presence of EOM in mUC is associated with worse outcomes vs. pts with NOM. Pts with EOM may benefit from 1st line platinum-based chemotherapy vs. checkpoint immunotherapy. Furthermore, pts with EOM experience more pain than pts with NOM and may benefit from early engagement with palliative care. Pts with EOM represent a population with a highly unmet need for systemic, targeted and/or radiation interventions. Molecular subtypes may further define these pts and analysis is planned. We encourage ongoing clinical trials to report outcomes in pts with EOM. A consensus on reporting of non-measurable disease is also needed. [Table: see text]

Postoperative delirium in patients undergoing surgery for bone metastases.

Postoperative delirium (PD), characterized by acute onset of global impairment in consciousness and cognition, is a common complication following major surgeries and is often associated with adverse outcomes. Because of the multiple comorbidities of the patient along with extensive nature of the surgery, patients undergoing surgery for bone metastases may be prone to developing PD. However, no study exists regarding PD in patients who undergo surgery for bone metastases.Two hundred seventy six patients with mean age of 64 years (range, 16–94) who underwent surgery for bone metastases were reviewed. The diagnosis of PD was made by the psychiatrist, according to fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Possible perioperative clinic-pathologic factors that may be associated with the development of PD were investigated.Among the 276 patients, 9% (n = 25) developed PD. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, history of psychiatric disorders (odds ratio [OR] = 9.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.78–21.74, P = .004), high preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level (OR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.06–1.29, P = .001), low preoperative serum albumin level (OR = 0.13; 95% CI 0.03–0.48, P = 0.002), and high dose of opioid analgesics received in the immediate postoperative period (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.07, P = .001) were independently associated with the development of PD. Patients with PD had lower survival (log rank, P = .001) than patients without PD.Incidence of PD is considerable in patients undergoing surgery for bone metastases. History of psychiatric disorders, preoperative serum albumin and CRP levels, and the dose of postoperative opioid analgesics are associated with the development of PD.

The association between neuraxial anesthesia and the development of childhood asthma – a secondary analysis of the newborn epigenetics study cohort

Objectives Childhood asthma is a common chronic illness that has been associated with mode of delivery. However, the effect of cesarean delivery alone does not fully account for the increased prevalence of childhood asthma. We tested the hypothesis that neuraxial anesthesia used for labor analgesia and cesarean delivery alters the risk of developing childhood asthma. Methods Within the Newborn Epigenetics Study birth cohort, 196 mother and child pairs with entries in the electronic anesthesia records were included. From these records, data on maternal anesthesia type, duration of exposure, and drugs administered peripartum were abstracted and combined with questionnaire-derived prenatal risk factors and medical records and questionnaire-derived asthma diagnosis data in children. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between type of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, and the development of asthma in males and females. Results We found that longer duration of epidural anesthesia was associated with a lower risk of asthma in male children (OR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.66–0.95) for each hour of epidural exposure. Additionally, a unit increase in the composite dose of local anesthetics and opioid analgesics administered via the spinal route was associated with a lower risk of asthma in both male (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.36–0.96) and female children (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09–0.82). Conclusion Our data suggest that peripartum exposure to neuraxial anesthesia may reduce the risk of childhood asthma primarily in males. Larger human studies and model systems with longer follow-up are required to elucidate these findings.

Does Surgical-site Multimodal Drug Injection After Palmar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures Improve Pain Scores?

Does Surgical-site Multimodal Drug Injection After Palmar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures Improve Pain Scores?

ДИНАМІКА ПАТОМОРФОЛОГІЧНИХ ЗМІН В ШАРАХ СІТКІВКИ ЧЕРЕЗ ДВОХТИЖНЕВИЙ ОПІОЇДНИЙ ВПЛИВ З ПОДАЛЬШОЮ ВІДМІНОЮ ОПІОЇДУ ТА ЧОТИРЬОХТИЖНЕВОЮ КОРЕКЦІЄЮ В ЕКСПЕРИМЕНТІ

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Our article aims to study the pathomorphological manifestations of angio- and neuroretinopathies as a result of chronic exposure to therapeutic doses of opioid analgesics and the possibility of correction of these changes with the help of pentoxifylline at early stages of destructive changes in the layers of the retina. This goal was achieved by using a histological retinal imaging technique. Histological preparations were prepared according to the conventional method using the dyes hematoxylin, eosin, and (azan) in compliance with the method of Heidenhain.The results of the study in the future will allow us to form a pathomorphological base, which can be used for comparative characterization of the dynamics of the growth of pathomorphological changes in the retinal layers during the short and long term exposure to low doses of opioids and the correction of these changes with pentoxifylline at the early and late stages of opioid exposure. The above will further enable us to establish the most optimal time framework for which there is a characteristic set of pathomorphological manifestations of the initial phenomena of angioneuroretinopathy in the layers of the retina, which is best exposed to corrective effects.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;