Cancer investigation
-
Cancer investigation · Jan 1999
Utility of routine postoperative laboratory studies in patients undergoing potentially curative resection for adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum.
In an effort to lower healthcare costs, this study was undertaken to evaluate the utility of routine postoperative (PO) laboratory studies and determine whether abnormalities alter patient (PT) care. This was a retrospective review of 105 PTs undergoing elective curative resection for colorectal cancer. A serum electrolyte and liver panel and a hematologic panel were drawn in all PTs. ⋯ Potassium was replaced in 17 of 32 occasions in 14 patients where it was low. In this group of PTs, PO serum potassium, hemoglobin levels, and serum glucose in diabetics were the only values important in making therapeutic decisions. If laboratory studies can be streamlined into only those necessary, substantial savings in health care will be seen without sacrificing quality medical care.
-
Cancer investigation · Jan 1998
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialLong-term administration of controlled-release oxycodone tablets for the treatment of cancer pain.
We conducted a study of the safety of controlled-release (CR) oxycodone tablets (OxyContin Tablets) administered chronically to patients with cancer-related pain in a usual clinical setting. These patients had participated in 1 of 2 double-blind, active-control studies. Our study was an open, 3-month treatment study that included 87 patients. ⋯ Despite stable pain control and an increasing total daily CR oxycodone dose, the percentage of patients reporting common opioid-related adverse events decreased over the course of the study. CR oxycodone tablets administered every 12 hr were successfully used to manage cancer pain over a 12-week period. Importantly, side effects diminished over time without a concomitant change in efficacy.
-
Cancer investigation · Jan 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA pharmacodynamic study of morphine and its glucuronide metabolites after single morphine dosing in cancer patients with pain.
Eleven morphine naïve patients with cancer-related pain were given a single dose of either intravenous morphine (n = 5) or oral morphine (n = 6). Blood sampling was performed over a 24-hr period and serial pain assessments were made using a categorical scale. ⋯ There was no correlation between the time to peak analgesia and time to peak concentration for morphine or M-6-G. There was no significant difference in absolute concentrations of M-6-G or M-3-6 nor in the ratio of M-3-G to M-6-G at peak analgesia versus relapse.