Pain physician
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The recent interest in targeting the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) has led to the development of new techniques of electrode placement. In this article, we describe a new "Transgrade" approach to the DRG, accessing the contralateral interlaminar space and steering the lead out the opposite foramen. ⋯ Neuromodulation, dorsal root ganglion, neuropathic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, spinal cord stimulation, chronic pain, implantable neurostimulators, spinal nerve root stimulation.
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Opioid medications are frequently used effectively for analgesia in acute settings, however, they are associated with dependence and addiction, and were implicated in 47,600 American fatalities in 2017. Evidence suggests that despite guidelines and professional body recommendations, acute prescribing remains highly variable. Educational interventions targeting prescribers have potential to optimize prescribing in-line with evidence-based best practice. ⋯ Opioids, education, physician education, prescriber education, opioid education, opioid prescribing, systematic review, prescriptions, prevention.
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Pain physicians have long been seen as subspecialists that commonly prescribe opioid medications, but the reality exists that primary care, oncologists, and surgical subspecialists find themselves embroiled in these clinical decisions just as frequently. It is a reasonable hope that pain physicians emerge as leaders in navigating these muddy waters, and the most important time to engrave practice standards is during clinical training. ⋯ Opioids, ACGME, pain management fellowship, guidelines, teaching.
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General anesthesia (GA), which is routinely applied in patients who undergo percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy (PEILD) of L5-S1 disc herniation, is closely associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in the elderly. Local anesthesia (LA) is an alternative pain control protocol that has not yet been fully evaluated. ⋯ L5-S1 disc herniation, older patients, percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy, local anesthesia, general anesthesia, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, Oswestry Disability Index, MacNab Criteria, Mini-Mental State Examination.
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In Europe, limited information on the use of opioids is available. ⋯ Pain medications, opioids, nonopioids, benzodiazepines, health insurance claims data, cancer pain, noncancer pain, chronic opioid use, adverse events prevention, guideline recommendations.