Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
An Open-Label Study of Sufentanil Sublingual Tablet 30 Mcg in Patients with Postoperative Pain.
To evaluate sufentanil sublingual tablet 30 mcg (SST 30 mcg) for postoperative pain in an older patient population with comorbidities. ⋯ SST 30 mcg was effective and well tolerated for the management of moderate-to-severe acute postoperative pain.
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Epidural blood patch is the procedure of choice to relieve postdural puncture headache. Hydroxyethyl-starch (HES) has been proposed as a patch in some circumstances such as in the case of hematological disease due to the theoretical risk of neoplastic seeding to the central nervous system. Acute neurological HES toxicity has been excluded by a previous animal study, but the long-term neurological toxicity has not been evaluated. ⋯ The results of the current study indicate that intrathecal injection of HES in rats does not induce any clinical or histopathological evidence of long-term neuronal toxicity. Further safety studies in animals are warranted before HES might be considered a safe alternative to the classic epidural blood patch.
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Health care providers are likely to see an increase in the concomitant use of cannabis and opioids, particularly with the increased liberalization and ongoing research into the possible role of medical marijuana for chronic pain. Recent literature reports a prevalence of concurrent use ranging from 8.9% to 31.8%. The primary aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cannabis use and aberrant drug behaviors in noncancer pain patients receiving chronic opioid therapy. ⋯ Concurrent use of cannabis and opioids by patients with chronic pain appears to indicate higher risk for opioid misuse. Closer monitoring for opioid-related aberrancy is indicated for this group of patients.
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To determine whether two independent examiners can agree on a diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). To evaluate interexaminer reliability in identifying myofascial trigger points in upper quarter muscles. To evaluate the reliability of clinical diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of MPS. To evaluate the validity of clinical diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of MPS. ⋯ Interrater reliability between two expert examiners identifying subjects with MPS involving upper quarter muscles exhibited substantial agreement. These results suggest that clinical criteria can be valid and reliable in the diagnosis of this condition.