Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses
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Review Case Reports
Integrating Complementary Therapies in Managing Phantom Limb Pain: A Case Review.
This paper describes phantom limb pain (PLP), its impact on patients, and the various treatment options, including pharmacologic and complementary therapies. It investigates the efficacy of incorporating complementary and alternative therapies, both invasive and noninvasive, for amputees who have not achieved satisfactory results with pharmacologic treatments and suffer from adverse drug events. Furthermore, with the predicted increase in limb amputations, it is crucial for nurses, as frontline providers, to understand PLP, be prepared to manage persistent pain and associated psychological and functional issues and educate patients and families about alternative treatment options. ⋯ The pathogenesis of PLP remains unclear, complicating the identification of causes and the selection of targeted therapies for each patient. Uncontrolled PLP can severely impact the quality of life, causing psychological distress and loss of productivity. Traditional pharmacologic therapy often requires supplementation with other options due to PLP's refractory nature. A comprehensive, multimodal treatment plan, including non-pharmacologic therapies, can enhance rehabilitation and reduce complications. Incorporating these therapies can decrease reliance on medications, particularly opioids, and mitigate side effects. Although many potential PLP treatments exist, further clinical studies are needed to determine their effectiveness and establish protocols for optimizing patient outcomes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Using Virtual Reality Technology on Pain and Hemodynamic Variables in Patients Receiving Hand Laceration Repair in an Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Pain and altered hemodynamic variables are among the most common complications in patients undergoing hand laceration repair in an Emergency Department. ⋯ Semi-immersive VR is effective in managing pain and hemodynamic variables during hand laceration repair. The nurses could use the semi-immersive VR to better control of pain and hemodynamic variables during hand laceration repair.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Auricular Acupressure Adjunct Treatment for Opioid Tapering: A Randomized Pilot Feasibility Study.
Opioid medications are necessary in the treatment of critically ill infants; however. prolonged use may lead to withdrawal syndrome. The purpose of this study was to assess feasibility of delivering an acupressure protocol for the treatment of iatrogenic withdrawal in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit as well as impact and acceptance of acupressure as an adjunct treatment. ⋯ These findings support future research with larger sample sizes to improve clinical treatment of infants physically dependent on sedative medications.
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Pain is a universal experience for hospitalized patients, with physical, psychological, spiritual, and cognitive implications. As hospitals seek to identify nonpharmaceutical options for managing acute pain, the role of chaplains has been overlooked. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of nurses regarding chaplain involvement in pain management. ⋯ When developing and implementing new pain protocols based on holistic care of patients, hospitals should ensure that nursing staff are educated on when and how to incorporate chaplains as part of a holistic approach to managing acute pain.
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Opioid-induced constipation is an adverse effect often experienced among patients taking prescription opioid medication. Despite frequent opioid prescribing after orthopedic injury, there is a dearth of research examining opioid-induced constipation presentations in this population. This analysis examines the frequency of opioid-induced constipation manifestations and association with patient-reported outcomes among participants prescribed opioid medication following orthopedic injury. ⋯ Nurse-led assessments of opioid-induced constipation can support the timely delivery of interventions to alleviate symptoms and potentially improve patient-reported outcomes after injury.