Der Schmerz
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This contribution compares unexplained essential questions regarding the placebo response with current empirical evidence: (1) Are the placebo response rates equivalent in the groups treated with medication or placebo? Very little evidence has been gathered to support this generally accepted additivity while some findings negate its validity. (2) Is the placebo response a function of the probability of receiving medication or placebo? There are indications that the number of study groups included in a trial determines the level of placebo and medication response. (3) How great is the placebo response in trials that directly compare a (new) medication with one that for example is already on the market? There are indications that such comparative studies produce higher placebo response rates. (4) How high is the placebo response rate in everyday clinical practice--or does the response to a medication in trials substantiate the effect of the medication in everyday clinical practice?
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The intensity of pain cannot be measured directly but can only be described subjectively. This obviously complicates the assessment especially in the younger age group. Pain evaluation and documentation are essential for good results in pain therapy. ⋯ In neonates and children up to 4 years of age, standardized scales have been developed for observation of their activities. Children in the age group 4-6 years old are able to communicate about pain. At this age self-report scales can be used to assess pain sensations."Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Management in Infants" (QUIPSInfant) represents a new tool for pediatric outcome evaluation, consisting of standardized data acquisition of outcome and process quality indicators.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Meta-analysis of dropout rates in randomized controlled clinical trials: opioid analgesia for osteoarthritis pain.
The interpretation of opioid studies in patients with chronic pain due to osteoarthritis is limited by a high dropout rate. Therefore, the implication of dropouts on the recommendation of opioids in chronic osteoarthritis pain was analyzed. ⋯ In spite of analgesic effects, many osteoarthritis patients prefer to stop chronic opioid use, because of adverse events. Therefore, opioids are not generally recommended in osteoarthritis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
[Clonidine for remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia: a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study of clonidine under intra-operative use of remifentanil in elective surgery of the shoulder].
In the postoperative period, α2-adrenergic agonists have an opioid sparing effect. In a previous, experimental study, it was also shown that clonidine attenuates remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia. In this study, we examined under clinical conditions whether early administration of a single dose of clonidine can inhibit remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia in patients undergoing elective surgery of the shoulder and with continuous intraoperative use of remifentanil. ⋯ An early single dose of 150 µg of clonidine did not reduce the postoperative morphine consumption and pain scores in patients undergoing elective surgery of the shoulder with remifentanil/propofol-based anaesthesia. After the effect of clonidine has presumably subsided the pain can even increase, therefore further studies with repetitive doses of clonidine should be carried out.
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Postoperative pain assessment in children with cognitive impairment poses major challenges to healthcare professionals. Children with moderate to severe cognitive impairment are generally unable to communicate effectively and to self-report the level of pain. Difficulties assessing pain have led to their exclusion from clinical trials and rendered them vulnerable to insufficient treatment of pain. ⋯ Scales based on a child's own perception of pain and its severity play a limited role in this vulnerable population and pain assessment tools which rely on observing pain behavior are essential. The r-FLACC, which is reliable and valid, includes specific behavioral descriptors and can be used simply and effectively postoperatively in clinical practice. Our task has to be assessing pain as a routine procedure in cognitively impaired children as a keystone for an improved and successful pain management in this very sensitive patient population.