Interventional Pain Management Research Articles

Advances in Local Anesthesia and Pain Management for Practicing Dentists: A Comprehensive Review

One of the most frequent problems that patients bring to a dental clinic is pain in the orofacial region or within the tooth. To identify and solve the issue, a proficient practitioner needs to be equipped with the necessary information and resources. Comprehending the history of pain control in dentistry can provide valuable understanding into the development of the present techniques. Newer and more effective pain management treatments have been created as dentistry continues to advance. Several modalities have been developed to reduce and eliminate this, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities. The goal of the present review of the literature's findings is to provide dentists with reliable information regarding the application of contemporary local anesthetics, alternative methods, and strategies to reduce pain during anesthesia administration, thereby improving patient comfort. Keywords: Local Anesthesia, Anesthetic Agents, NSAIDS, Lignocaine, Management, Pain Control

Reducing Tetanus Vaccine Pain in Filipino Pregnant Women: Helfer Skin Tap Technique Efficacy

Intramuscular injections, crucial for medication and vaccine delivery, often induce significant pain, particularly in pregnant women undergoing routine immunizations. Tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination, vital for maternal and neonatal health, poses a recurring challenge due to associated discomfort. The Helfer Skin Tap Technique (HSTT), known for alleviating injection pain in adults, remains underexplored in pregnant populations. This study evaluates HSTT's efficacy in reducing pain during tetanus toxoid intramuscular vaccination in pregnant women. Employing a true experimental design, 60 primigravida participants aged 18 to 35 were randomly assigned to experimental (HSTT) and control groups. Pain levels, physiological responses, and HSTT's impact were assessed. Results indicate a significant reduction in pain perception (p=0.004) in the experimental group, corroborated by physiological indicators. When examining physiological indicators of pain, statistically significant differences were observed in heart rate (p=0.02) and respiratory rate (p=0.001) between the two groups. However, no significant difference was found in blood pressure (p=0.98) between the two groups. HSTT offers a promising avenue for enhancing prenatal care experiences and maternal well-being. Further research should explore its long-term effects, applicability, and cost-effectiveness in obstetric settings to ensure equitable access to pain management interventions for pregnant women worldwide.

Renal colic

Renal colic accounts for 5-10% of all emergency department visits, making it acommon condition in acute medicine. The typical clinical presentation is an early indication of urolithiasis. Diagnostic measures include laboratory tests, ultrasound, and low-dose noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scans. Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) plain film radiography has been widely replaced by low-dose noncontrast CT with similar radiation dosage. In special patient groups such as children or pregnant women, ionizing radiation should be avoided if possible. General measures involve pain management (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, opioids) and empirical antibiotic treatment for suspected bacterial infection. Depending on the location/size of the stone, pharmacological stone expulsion therapy may be considered. In cases of obstructive pyelonephritis or acute renal insufficiency, early urinary drainage (JJ stent/nephrostomy) is recommended. Definitive stone removal may be performed primarily in some cases (rather small and rather distal ureterolithiasis). It is common to schedule stone removal as asecondary intervention.

Analgesia for the treatment of acute pancreatitis: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

IntroductionGastrointestinal hospitalisations in the USA cause over US$130 billion in expenditures, and acute pancreatitis is a leading cause of these hospitalisations. Adequate pain control is one of the primary treatment...

Central Neuromodulators in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Why, How, and When.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is responsive to treatments using central neuromodulators. Central neuromodulators work by enhancing the synaptic transmission of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenalin, and dopamine, achieving a slower regulation or desensitization of their postsynaptic receptors. Central neuromodulators act on receptors along the brain-gut axis, so they are useful in treating psychiatric comorbidities, modifying gut motility, improving central downregulation of visceral signals, and enhancing neurogenesis in patients with IBS. Choosing a central neuromodulator for treating IBS should be according to the pharmacological properties and predominant symptoms. The first-line treatment for pain management in IBS is using tricyclic antidepressants. An alternative for pain management is the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are useful when symptoms of anxiety and hypervigilance are dominant but are not helpful for treating abdominal pain. The predominant bowel habit is helpful when choosing a neuromodulator to treat IBS; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors help constipation, not pain, but may cause diarrhea; tricyclic antidepressants help diarrhea but may cause constipation. A clinical response may occur in 6-8 weeks, but long-term treatment (usually 6-12 months) is required after the initial response to prevent relapse. Augmentation therapy may be beneficial when the therapeutic effect of the first agent is incomplete or associated with side effects. It is recommended to reduce the dose of the first agent and add a second complementary treatment. This may include an atypical antipsychotic or brain-gut behavioral treatment. When tapering central neuromodulators, the dose should be reduced slowly over 4 weeks but may take longer when discontinuation effects occur.

Effectiveness of Virtual Reality in Reducing Perceived Pain and Anxiety Among Patients Within a Hospital System: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Within hospital systems, diverse subsets of patients are subject to minimally invasive procedures that provide therapeutic relief and necessary health data that are often perceived as anxiogenic or painful. These feelings are particularly relevant to patients experiencing procedures where they are conscious and not sedated or placed under general anesthesia that renders them incapacitated. Pharmacologic pain management and topical anesthetic creams are used to manage these feelings; however, distraction-based methods can provide nonpharmacologic means to modify the painful experience and discomfort often associated with these procedures. Recent studies support distraction as a useful method for reducing anxiety and pain and as a result, improving patient experience. Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that provides an immersive user experience and can operate through a distraction-based method to reduce the negative or painful experience often related to procedures where the patient is conscious. Given the possible short-term and long-term outcomes of poorly managed pain and enduring among patients, health care professionals are challenged to improve patient well-being during medically essential procedures. The purpose of this pilot project is to assess the efficacy of using VR as a distraction-based intervention for anxiety or pain management compared to other nonpharmacologic interventions in a variety of hospital settings, specifically in patients undergoing lumbar puncture procedures and bone marrow biopsies at the oncology ward, patients receiving nerve block for a broken bone at an anesthesia or surgical center, patients undergoing a cleaning at a dental clinic, patients conscious during an ablation procedure at a cardiology clinic, and patients awake during a kidney biopsy at a nephrology clinic. This will provide the framework for additional studies in other health care settings. In a single visit, patients eligible for the study will complete brief preprocedural and postprocedural questionnaires about their perceived fear, anxiety, and pain levels. During the procedure, research assistants will place a VR headset on the patient and the patient will undergo a VR experience to distract from any pain felt from the procedure. Participants' vitals, including blood pressure, heart rate, and rate of respiration, will also be recorded before, during, and after the procedure. The study is already underway, and results support a decrease in perceived pain by 1.00 and a decrease in perceived anxiety by 0.3 compared to the control group (on a 10-point Likert scale). Among the VR intervention group, the average rating for comfort was 4.35 out of 5. This study will provide greater insight into how patients' perception of anxiety and pain could potentially be altered. Furthermore, metrics related to the operational efficiency of providing a VR intervention compared to a control will provide insight into the feasibility and integration of such technologies in routine practice. DERR1-10.2196/52649.

Effects of Virtual Reality on Analgesia in Wound Care and Physical Therapy for Burn Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ObjectivesThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in alleviating pain and improving the experience of burn patients during wound care and physical therapy. DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis. Data SourcesPubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Database, and the Web of Science. Review/Analysis MethodsWe searched four electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from the earliest available date up to March 1, 2022. The primary outcome was worst pain intensity, while secondary outcomes encompassed pain unpleasantness intensity, time spent thinking about pain, and fun experience intensity. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. ResultsThis study included 21 trials. The combined data revealed that the VR group experienced a significant reduction in worst pain intensity, pain unpleasantness intensity, and time spent thinking about pain compared to the control group. Moreover, VR treatment was associated with a significant increase in the fun experience intensity. Implications for nursingVirtual reality has the potential value of auxiliary analgesia in burn care, and exploring a more perfect scheme of VR-assisted analgesia is worthwhile. ConclusionsThe results of this meta-analysis indicate that VR can effectively reduce worst pain intensity, pain unpleasantness intensity, and time spent thinking about pain during wound care and physical therapy for burn patients. Additionally, it enhances fun experience intensity of the treatment period. Therefore, VR shows promise as a valuable complementary pain management intervention for burn patients.

Association of opioid use with survival in patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: it is time for evidence-based behaviors.

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with pain experienced by most patients undergoing cancer treatment. Opioids are the recommended treatment for cancer pain management, but recent studies suggest a negative association between opioid use and survival rates among patients undergoing immunotherapy. However, conclusions cannot be drawn regarding causality from these observational data. Immunotherapy, which boosts the body's immune system to fight cancer cells, has emerged as a promising treatment option for all types of cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can activate the anticancer function of exhausted T cells and have shown remarkable survival benefits in patients with multiple malignancies. However, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that the use of opioids during ICI treatment has an adverse effect on patient prognosis, while the use of NSAIDs is not significantly associated with the prognosis in patients treated with ICIs. These reviews have major limitations due to the retrospective nature of the studies and the multiple factors that can influence the phenomenon. Therefore, caution is required when interpreting results from retrospective data on drug interactions. The findings of this study are alarming and potentially harmful to patients with cancer suffering from pain or other symptoms requiring opioid drugs.

Pain management in cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer (CC) occupies the second place in incidence and mortality among women in México. Despite this, Cervical Cancer continues to have a late diagnosis which leads to a high rate of complications. Pain represents the most feared and disabling symptom, being present in up to 86% of patients with advanced disease. The approach to managing pain in this population has not been studied and described to a full extent. In addition, there is a pressing need to provide concise recommendations to promote adequate pain control. We performed a review of the literature in CC and had experts in the field of pain management evaluate the evidence found. We then issued relevant recommendations on pharmacology and interventional pain management. Thus, the approach to pain management must be comprehensive and individualized, considering the timely and appropriate use of pharmacologic treatment as well as interventional procedures.

E052 Characterising the factors associated with response to pain management in patients with the Stickler syndrome

Abstract Background/Aims The Stickler syndrome is associated with functional changes in one of the COL2 (type 1, common), COL11 (type 2, uncommon) or COL9 (very rare) genes and causes early onset osteoarthritis. Previous studies have looked at the factors associated with response to pain management interventions in osteoarthritis, but none have done so in a Stickler syndrome cohort. We aimed to identify the factors associated with response to a pain management clinic in patients with osteoarthritis caused by Stickler syndrome. Methods All attendees completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Scores from 321 Stickler syndrome patients were gathered during each attendance of clinic. Repeat attenders were categorised into responders (BPI score improved on average by > 2 points) and non-responders (BPI score worsened on average by > 2 points). The responders (R) and non-responders (NR) cohorts were characterised and compared using variables including initial pain scores, pain management used, pain categories affected, time between visits, sex, age, genetic mutations, pain location and presence of joint replacements. Results 237/321 patients re-attended the clinic. 26/237 were Responders (R) and 30/237 were Non-responders (NR). All baseline BPI scores were statistically significantly higher in the R cohort, suggesting that the clinic provides greater benefit to those with greater levels of pain. Patients in the total cohort who started with high pain scores (7 or above) had an improvement in scores compared to those who started with low pain scores (3 or below), who had a worsening of scores (-1.158 vs 0.8194, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a weak negative correlation between initial pain score and change in score (r2=0.136). Topical NSAIDs were more commonly used in the NR cohort (33.33% in NR vs 7.69% in R, p = 0.0248) whereas oral NSAIDs were more commonly used in the R cohort (6.67% in NR vs 30.77% in R, p = 0.0332). A final difference between the cohorts was the effect of the pain on the different interference scores. The NR cohort had a statistically significantly lower ‘relations’ score compared to the two most affected interference categories (p = 0.0113, p = 0.0214), whereas the R cohort had no statistically significant difference between the highest affected categories and ‘relations’, suggesting ‘relations’ were disproportionally unaffected in the NR cohort. The time between visits, sex, age, mutations, pain location and joint replacement presence were not statistically significantly different between the two cohorts. Conclusion Patients with high levels of pain benefited from the service. Factors associated with response were high initial pain scores, use of oral NSAIDs, and a ‘relations’ score which was not statistically significantly different to the other life quality categories. This information could be used in the future to help predict response to pain management interventions in Stickler syndrome. Disclosure R. Mudkavi: None. N. Shenker: None.

Comparison of tibial nerve pulsed radiofrequency and intralesional radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the treatment of painful calcaneal spur and plantar fasciitis: A randomized clinical trial.

Ultrasound-guided tibial nerve pulsed radiofrequency (US-TN PRF) and fluoroscopy-guided intralesional radiofrequency thermocoagulation (FL-RFT) adjacent to the painful calcaneal spur are two interventions for pain management in painful calcaneal spur (PCS) and plantar fasciitis (PF). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the two procedures. A prospective, randomized, single-blind study. Single-center pain clinic. Forty-nine patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into two groups. 25 patients (group U) received US-TN PRF at 42 °C for 240 s, while 24 patients (group F) received intralesional FL-RFT at 80 °C for 90 s. The most severe Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score during the first morning steps and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle hindfoot scores were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedures. The study's primary outcome assessed treatment effectiveness using the NRS, whereas the secondary outcomes included changes in the AOFAS score and the incidence of procedure-related mild adverse events. NRS and AOFAS scores significantly improved in groups U and F at 1 and 3 months compared to baseline (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the groups. At month 1, 50% or greater pain relief was achieved in 72% of patients in group U and 75% in group F. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of mild adverse events between the groups. US-TN PRF and intralesional FL-RFT have shown significant effectiveness in the treatment of PCS and PF. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed.

The effectiveness, acceptability, and sustainability of non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain management in older adults in mainland China: A systematic review

ObjectivesThis systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness, acceptability, and sustainability of non-pharmacological pain management interventions for older adults in mainland China. Materials and MethodsArticles searching was conducted across six databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFangdata. Quality appraisal was performed using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool. ResultsA total of 26 articles met the inclusion criteria, involving 2,197 participants with a mean age of 69.19 years. The participants' ages ranged from 63.85 to 81.75 years. The evaluated non-pharmacological interventions included psychotherapy, acupuncture, exercise, massage, neurotherapy, and multidisciplinary interventions. The overall changes in pain intensity varied from -5.19 to -0.65 on a numeric rating scale ranging from zero to ten. ConclusionsNon-pharmacological interventions proved effective in alleviating pain intensity among older adults in mainland China. The findings suggest that mindfulness, exercise and pain education can be promoted as viable strategies for enhancing the well-being of the elderly population.

Emerging trends in research on perineal trauma management: A bibliometric analysis of articles published since 1985

BackgroundThe purpose of this bibliometric analysis is to explore global trends in scientific research involving spontaneous perineal tears sustained during childbirth. This research is critical as a significant number of women have vaginal lacerations after birth resulting in complications such as pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. MethodsThe articles used in this bibliometric analysis were collected from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library and Scopus. Analysis was carried out in Python and R programming languages with some visualizations created using VOS software. Apart from traditional methods, this analysis also involved time series forecasting and assessment of rolling correlations. ResultsResults indicate authors and institutions from the United Kingdom as the most productive in the research on this subject research. National level analyses for six countries showed that productivity was positively correlated with GDP/capita, average health expenditure and negatively associated with proportion of C-sections. Recent and emerging themes include those involving pharmacological interventions for pain management. ConclusionThere is a growing global interest in the research on postnatal perineal trauma with authors from the UK playing a leading role so far. Countries with high vaginal birth rates, need to promote research in this field to minimise trauma-associated comorbidities.

Pharmacological Interventions for Pain Management in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Network Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (P5-13.003)

Pharmacological Interventions for Pain Management in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Network Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (P5-13.003)

Virtual Reality in Acute and Chronic Pain Medicine: An Updated Review.

This review critically analyzes the recent literature on virtual reality's (VR) use in acute and chronic pain management, offering insights into its efficacy, applications, and limitations. Recent studies, including meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials, have demonstrated VR's effectiveness in reducing pain intensity in various acute pain scenarios, such as procedural/acute pain and in chronic pain conditions. The role of factors such as immersion and presence in enhancing VR's efficacy has been emphasized. Further benefits have been identified in the use of VR for assessment as well as symptom gathering through conversational avatars. However, studies are limited, and strong conclusions will require further investigation. VR is emerging as a promising non-pharmacological intervention in pain management for acute and chronic pain. However, its long-term efficacy, particularly in chronic pain management, remains an area requiring further research. Key findings highlight that VR programs vary in efficacy depending on the specificity of the origin of pain.

Auricular Point Acupressure: A Complementary Medicine Treatment for Pain Management

Auricular Point Acupressure: A Complementary Medicine Treatment for Pain Management

A comprehensive overview and scope of interventional pain management.

A comprehensive overview and scope of interventional pain management.

Interactions Between Endocannabinoid and Endogenous Opioid Systems Prospectively Influence Postoperative Opioid Use in Pregnant Patients Undergoing Cesarean Delivery

Both endocannabinoid (EC) and endogenous opioid systems are involved in nociceptive processing and may work together synergistically based on preclinical models. This study evaluated the interactive effects of preoperative beta-endorphin concentrations (a key analgesic endogenous opioid) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ECs (CSF and plasma 2-arachidonoylglycerol [2-AG] and plasma anandamide [AEA]) on postoperative opioid use and pain intensity in a prospective cohort of n = 112 pregnant patients undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery. Maternal blood and CSF samples were collected preoperatively for beta-endorphin and EC assays. Patients completed measures of outpatient opioid use (number of tablets used and days of use) and average pain intensity at 2 weeks postoperatively. Results of general linear model analyses controlling for maternal age, BMI at time of delivery, and race revealed significant multiplicative interactions between EC and beta-endorphin concentrations on number of opioid tablets used (based on pill count), days of opioid use, and total milligram morphine equivalents used in the 2 week follow-up period. Elevated preoperative plasma and CSF 2-AG predicted reduced outpatient opioid analgesic use particularly for patients low in CSF beta-endorphin. Similar analyses for pain intensity at 2-week follow-up indicated a significant interaction (p<.02) characterized by higher preoperative beta-endorphin concentrations being associated with lower subsequent pain only for individuals with low preoperative plasma AEA concentrations. Further exploration of interactions between EC and endogenous opioid inhibitory systems as they influence responses to opioid analgesics in other clinical pain populations may help guide development of precision pain management approaches. PerspectiveIn the postoperative setting of patients undergoing cesarean delivery, elevated endocannabinoids were linked to reduced outpatient opioid analgesic use in individuals who had low endogenous opioid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid. Further exploration of interactions between these two inhibitory systems as they impact on responses to pain management interventions appears warranted.

Biopolymeric 3D printed implantable scaffolds as a potential adjuvant treatment for acute post-operative pain management

ABSTRACT Background Pain is characterized as a major symptom induced by tissue damage occurring from surgical procedures, whose potency is being experienced subjectively, while current pain relief strategies are not always efficient in providing individualized treatment. 3D printed implantable devices hold the potential to offer a precise and customized medicinal approach, targeting both tissue engineering and drug delivery. Research design and methods Polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL – chitosan (CS) composite scaffolds loaded with procaine (PRC) were fabricated by bioprinting. Geometrical features including dimensions, pattern, and infill of the scaffolds were mathematically optimized and digitally determined, aiming at developing structurally uniform 3D printed models. Printability studies based on thermal imaging of the bioprinting system were performed, and physicochemical, surface, and mechanical attributes of the extruded scaffolds were evaluated. The release rate of PRC was examined at different time intervals up to 1 week. Results Physicochemical stability and mechanical integrity of the scaffolds were studied, while in vitro drug release studies revealed that CS contributes to the sustained release dynamic of PRC. Conclusions The printing extrusion process was capable of developing implantable devices for a local and sustained delivery of PRC as a 7-day adjuvant regimen in post-operative pain management.

Drug-related physician continuing medical education requirements, 2010–2020

IntroductionThe crisis of drug-related harm in the United States continues to worsen. While prescription-related overdoses have fallen dramatically, they are still far above pre-2010 levels. Physicians can reduce the risk of overdose and other drug-related harms by improving opioid prescribing practices and ensuring that patients are able to easily access medications for substance use disorder treatment. Most physicians received little or no training in those subjects in medical school. It is possible that continuing medical education can improve physician knowledge of appropriate prescribing and substance use disorder treatment and patient outcomes. MethodsDescriptive legal review. Laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were searched for provisions that require all or most physicians to receive either one-time or continuing medical education regarding controlled substance prescribing, pain management, or substance use disorder treatment. ResultsThere has been a rapid increase in the number of states with relevant requirements, from three states at the end of 2010 to 42 at the end of 2020. The frequency and duration of required education varied substantially across states. In all states, the number of hours required in relevant topics is a small fraction of overall required continuing education, an average of 1 h per year. Despite recent shifts in the substances driving overdose, most requirements remain focused on opioids. ConclusionWhile most states have now adopted continuing education requirements regarding controlled substance prescribing, pain management, or substance use disorder treatment, these requirements comprise a small component of the required post-training education requirements. Research is needed to determine whether this training translates into reductions in drug-related harm.