A&A practice
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Case Reports
Pecs Blocks for Chronic Pain: A Case Report of Successful Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome Management.
Mastectomies can be complicated by difficult-to-treat postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) and axillary web syndrome (AWS). We present a case of PMPS and AWS successfully treated with Pecs I and II blocks and trigger point injections. ⋯ This case presents the utility of a multimodal approach for a patient with pain after mastectomy. This case report is the first-time demonstration of Pecs blocks to treat chronic PMPS.
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Case Reports
A Case Report of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Acute Neuropathic Pain in Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a peripheral demyelinating neuromuscular disorder occasionally associated with pharmacologically refractory neuropathic pain. We present a case of acute neuropathic pain in a 22-year-old man with GBS managed with percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). ⋯ Analgesic and anxiolytic medications were reduced by 33% on the first day and by 78% on day 21. PNS is a minimally invasive, nonpharmacologic modality for treating acute neuropathic pain in GBS patients.
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We report the case of a patient with a right-sided L4 synovial cyst, which had been causing significant pain, who had a successful transfacet epidural steroid injection to rupture the cyst. Using fluoroscopy, the needle was advanced through the right L4 facet joint and the cyst was ruptured using saline. ⋯ Repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done 2 years later showed no recurrence of the cyst. We discuss the role of transfacet epidural steroid injection in synovial cysts treatment.
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Case Reports
Continuous Intravenous Lidocaine Provides Effective Pain Control in a Palliative Child: A Case Report.
Lidocaine infusion is often used as part of a perioperative, multimodal pain management plan. We present its use to treat an 8-year-old child with devastating headaches. His symptoms stemmed from an inoperable supratentorial ependymoma that was causing thalamic bleeding and increased intracranial pressure. ⋯ These effects prevent lucidity for interactions, confound neurologic examination. A lidocaine infusion resulted in significant pain relief without these negative side effects. We discuss lidocaine infusion use and considerations for children suffering from intractable headaches.
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Case Reports
Transitioning From Intrathecal Hydromorphone to Sublingual Buprenorphine-Naloxone Through Microdosing: A Case Report.
A 76-year-old woman with chronic noncancer pain and an intrathecal hydromorphone-bupivacaine pump was admitted for acute exacerbation of heart failure. Her pump was unable to be replaced due to medical comorbidities. She was unable to tolerate oral opioids due to ventilatory depression. ⋯ Microdosing of sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone was initiated while decreasing intrathecal hydromorphone. This successfully weaned the patient off intrathecal hydromorphone with adequate pain relief and prevented both opioid withdrawal and ventilatory depression. To our knowledge, microdosing buprenorphine-naloxone to assist with discontinuing intrathecal opioids has not been previously reported in the literature.