Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Sep 2017
ReviewSerotonin Syndrome in Tapentadol Literature: Systematic Review of Original Research.
The potential association between serotonin syndrome and tapentadol is not well described in the literature. This study aimed to review the literature and identify methodological issues that could lead to inaccurately reported rates of serotonin syndrome associated with tapentadol use. A systematic review of English articles using MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Scopus was performed. ⋯ No included trials differentiated between the development of adverse events in patients taking serotonergic drugs and those who were not. This differentiation is necessary to evaluate the increased risk of adverse events in patients prescribed tapentadol concomitantly with other serotonergic medications. Therefore, the current tapentadol literature has important limitations that prevent the adequate characterization of the potential association between tapentadol and serotonin syndrome.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Sep 2017
Comparative StudyBenefits of Thoracic Epidural Analgesia in Patients Undergoing an Open Posterior Component Separation for Abdominal Herniorrhaphy.
An open posterior component separation (PCS) is a commonly utilized surgical approach for repair of complex abdominal wall defects and hernias. Although this approach may improve surgical outcomes, significant postoperative pain can be expected given the required laparotomy and extensive abdominal wall manipulation. Both systemic opioids and thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) are viable postoperative analgesic options, and both are commonly utilized. ⋯ This subgroup also had a significantly shorter time to liquid diet and a decreased postoperative LOS. In conclusion, for patients undergoing an open PCS, the inclusion of TEA in the postoperative analgesic regimen did not by itself hasten the return of bowel function. However, when TEA was utilized and systemic opioids were avoided, bowel recovery occurred significantly sooner and resulted in a shortened hospital LOS.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Sep 2017
Continuous Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion for the Management of Pain Uncontrolled by Opioid Medications.
Limited data exist describing the outcomes of patients receiving continuous lidocaine infusions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of use of continuous lidocaine infusions for pain management at a community teaching hospital. A retrospective chart review was performed that included adult patients receiving continuous systemic lidocaine infusions for the treatment of pain. ⋯ Similarly, a difference was present comparing morphine equivalent usage on day -2 with day +2 (P = .008) and day -1 with day +1 (P = .006). Continuous infusions of systemic lidocaine appear to be beneficial in some patients experiencing uncontrolled pain and may improve pain scores while decreasing opioid requirements. Overall beneficial effects of systemic lidocaine may last longer than the infusion itself.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Sep 2017
Case ReportsPropofol-Based Palliative Sedation to Treat Antipsychotic-Resistant Agitated Delirium.
Delirium is a common problem in terminally ill patients that is associated with significant distress and, hence, considered a palliative care emergency. The three subtypes of delirium are hyperactive, hypoactive, and mixed, depending on the level of psychomotor activity and arousal disturbance. When agitated delirium becomes refractory in the setting of imminent dying, the agitation may be so severe that palliative sedation (PS) is required. ⋯ These characteristics make it relatively easy to titrate. Reported doses range from 50 to 70 mg per hour. The authors present a case of antipsychotic-resistant agitated delirium treated with a propofol intravenous infusion.