Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2023
ReviewHow large language models can augment perioperative medicine: a daring discourse.
Interest in natural language processing, specifically large language models, for clinical applications has exploded in a matter of several months since the introduction of ChatGPT. Large language models are powerful and impressive. ⋯ We review three potential major areas in which it may be used to benefit perioperative medicine: (1) clinical decision support and surveillance tools, (2) improved aggregation and analysis of research data related to large retrospective studies and application in predictive modeling, and (3) optimized documentation for quality measurement, monitoring and billing compliance. These large language models are here to stay and, as perioperative providers, we can either adapt to this technology or be curtailed by those who learn to use it well.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2023
Association between socioeconomic status and treatment in patients with low back or neck pain: a population-based cross-sectional study in South Korea.
Socioeconomic status affects the treatment of patients with low back pain and/or neck pain. We examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (occupation and household income level) and treatments such as chronic opioid use and interventional procedures among these patients. ⋯ Socioeconomic status factors are associated with treatment in patients with low back pain and/or neck pain.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2023
Postoperative neurological symptoms following arthroscopic shoulder surgery with interscalene block: an exploratory secondary analysis of pooled randomized controlled trial data.
Postoperative neurological symptoms (PONS) are recognized complications of regional anesthesia and orthopedic surgery. We aimed to better characterize prevalence and potential risk factors in a homogeneous population of randomized, controlled trial participants. ⋯ PONS are common after arthroscopic shoulder surgery performed with single injection ultrasound-guided interscalene blocks. No definitive mitigating risk factors were identified.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Nov 2023
Case ReportsKetamine for atypical facial pain and hormonal dysregulation: a case report.
Ketamine has garnered increased interest for its promising applications in chronic pain treatment, particularly in cases where conventional therapies have proven insufficient. Nevertheless, despite its potential advantages, ketamine remains classified as a third-line medication for pain management. While there are well-documented reactions to ketamine such as hypertension and tachycardia, not much is known about its relationship to cortisol. In this case report, we explicate the administration of ketamine in a patient presenting with atypical facial pain, examining its multifaceted effects on cortisol levels and concurrent pain management. ⋯ While ketamine is primarily known to control pain through the antagonization of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, its effects on cortisol may also contribute to its analgesic properties. Physicians should be aware of the potential for these interactions, particularly when treating patients with a predisposition to hormonal imbalances.