Der Schmerz
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Review Comparative Study
[Buprenorphine in children. A clinical and pharmacological review].
There is a paucity of relevant pediatric data on buprenorphine, especially with respect to the long-term application in children suffering chronic pain or to pediatric pharmacokinetic as well as pharmacodynamic data after repeated sublingual or long-term transdermal administration. Compared to adults, after single-dose buprenorphine, children seem to exhibit a larger clearance related to body weight and a longer duration of action. ⋯ Due to its various application routes, long duration of action, and metabolism largely independent of renal function buprenorphine is of special clinical interest in pediatrics, especially for postoperative pain and cancer pain control. There is no reason to expect effects fundamentally different from those in adults.
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Opioids are valuable analgesics, capable of providing pain relief and functional improvement not only in patients with cancer-related pain, but also in chronic noncancer-related pain patients. However, recent data have shown that the increasing prescription of opioids is associated with a rise in aberrant drug-related behaviour. The causes of this behaviour are multifactorial. ⋯ Assessment of the progress of therapy is based on the following factors: analgesic efficacy, adverse side effects, functional status and aberrant drug-related behaviour. In the absence of a successful opioid therapy, the treatment must be discontinued to avoid iatrogenic damage, substance abuse and illegal diversion. After discontinuation of the therapy, a comprehensive interdisciplinary re-evaluation is required.
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Cannabinoid drugs have been used increasingly in the treatment of neuropathic pain and spasticity. Even though the evidence still is scarce, patients with multiple sclerosis seem to benefit substiantially from cannabinoid therapy. In a case report dose finding and long-term therapie with delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol are described. ⋯ At the same time spasticity was reduced and appetite and weight increased. It still needs to bei discussed whether or not part of the positive effect on symptoms was probably mediated by psychomimetic effects. This case report shows, that dronabinol offers an additional therapeutic option in a palliative treatment concept for patiens with high symptom load.
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Surgical procedures in the region of the shoulder joint are among the most painful interventions in orthopedic practice. For this reason, in addition to intravenous pain therapy with opioids, blockade of the brachial plexus has become established as an effective method to provide analgesia. High-resolution ultrasound offers the possibility of performing nerve blockades under visual monitoring. ⋯ Smaller operations can usually be adequately managed with perioperative single-shot blockade. More extensive operations for which severe pain lasting for several days can be expected and surgical interventions involving preexistent shoulder stiffness necessitate catheterization for uninterrupted pain therapy. Successful rehabilitation after shoulder surgery requires diligent perioperative pain blockade, which can primarily be provided by interscalene plexus blockade.