British journal of pain
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British journal of pain · Nov 2018
Major lower limb amputation audit - introduction and implementation of a multimodal perioperative pain management guideline.
Lower limb amputation is a frequent surgical intervention. It is well known to be associated with postoperative pain. Optimisation of perioperative pain has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic pain. ⋯ Fewer patients required the use of opioid patient controlled of analgesia after the guideline was introduced (26% vs 4%). The implementation of a perioperative pain management guideline improved pain scores and reduced opioid consumption in patients undergoing lower limb amputations. We suggest a holistic and collaborative, multimodal pathway towards the perioperative pain management of lower limb amputations.
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British journal of pain · Nov 2018
High-frequency spinal cord stimulation causing cardiac paresthesias after lead migration: a case report.
High-frequency (HF) spinal cord stimulation (SCS), a relatively new form of spinal cord stimulation, provides stimulation frequencies of up to 10 kHz and allows for paresthesia-free pain relief, an advantage that distinguishes it from traditional stimulation therapy. Without paresthesias, patients with HF SCS do not experience position-dependent painful stimulation and do not have to experience treatment interruption during sleep. Lead migration is a well-known complication of conventional spinal cord stimulation and usually results in a loss of efficacy along with other unpleasant sensory symptoms. In this case report, we present an incidence of lead migration in HF SCS that resulted in paresthesias, a symptom not expected to occur in this novel therapy. ⋯ While HF SCS has emerged as an effective paresthesia-free means of reducing back and leg pain, we provide the first report of paresthesias occurring with the HF SCS system as a result of cephalad lead migration. As HF SCS is only now being utilized as a treatment modality, we must remain cautious of potential adverse outcomes in patients, in particular above T8.