Therapie
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In 1998, 77 cases of accidental ingestion of paracetamol paediatric syrup (Efferalgan) in children were notified to the Marseille Poison Centre. In a quarter of them, the alleged dose taken was greater than the toxic dose. ⋯ The proximate marketing of a product with a child-proof top, which should allow the number of accidents to be reduced. Doctors and pharmacists should be informed rapidly, so that they can warn the families who still have the old type of bottle.
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This article reviews the peripheral and central mechanisms of neuropathic pain. The main mechanisms involved in neuropathic pain are: (1) ectopic activities, (2) ephapses, (3) sensitization of nociceptors. Central morphological alterations could also be involved: (1) medullar neuronal reorganization, (2) hyperexcitability of central nervous system nociceptive neurones. The relative resistance of these neuropathic pains to opioid drugs could be related to a decrease in the number of opioid receptors to an amino acid mediator related spinal neurons hyperexitability and to an increase in non opioid peptides such as cholecystokinin.
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Acute pain can be managed favourably by the use of paracetamol, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and local anaesthetics, solely or in combination. Sophisticated methods of administration such as nerve blocks or patient-controlled analgesia will improve results. ⋯ The role of opioids in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain has still not been clarified. Adjuvant drugs are often required.
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Clinical Trial
[Pharmacokinetic evaluation of a computerized target-controlled infusion system: application to propofol in orthopedic surgery].
PaMo 2.0, a type of software, includes a pharmacokinetic model for propofol in the adult. It allows both administration and monitoring of propofol target-controlled infusions. In order to evaluate PaMo 2.0, a prospective clinical trial compared, at defined infusion times, predicted and measured plasma propofol concentrations, in 28 patients programmed for hip-replacement surgery. ⋯ PaMo 2.0 under-estimated plasma propofol concentrations. The convergence between predicted and measured propofol concentrations was good and not modified in respect of infusion time. This infusion system is suitable for propofol administration, but the integration of Bayesian pharmacokinetic models would greatly improve propofol plasma concentration estimation and regimen adaptation to each patient.