Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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The increased use of C-arm fluoroscopy in interventional pain management has led to higher radiation exposure for pain physicians. This study investigated whether or not real-time radiation dose feedback with coaching can reduce the scatter dose received by pain physicians. Firstly, phantom measurements were made to create a scatter dose profile, which visualizes the average scatter radiation for different C-arm positions at 3 levels of height. ⋯ The results showed that real-time feedback of the received dose did not lead to a reduction in scatter radiation. However, visualization of the scatter dose in a scatter dose profile and active coaching on optimal positions did reduce the scatter radiation received by pain physicians during interventional pain procedures by 46.4% (P = 0.05). Knowledge of and real-time coaching with the scatter dose profile reduced the dose of pain physicians by half, caused by their increased awareness for scatter radiation and their insight into strategic positioning.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness and Tolerability of a Moderate Dose of Tapentadol Prolonged Release for Managing Severe, Chronic Low Back Pain with a Neuropathic Component: An Open-label Continuation Arm of a Randomized Phase 3b Study.
To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of tapentadol prolonged release (PR) for severe, chronic low back pain with a neuropathic component in a subpopulation that achieved adequate pain relief with tapentadol PR 300 mg/day in a randomized, double-blind, phase 3b study. ⋯ A subpopulation of patients with low back pain with a neuropathic component responded very well to tapentadol PR 300 mg/day, with significant improvements in pain intensity, neuropathic pain-related symptoms, and quality of life. Further research is needed to identify factors associated with a very positive treatment response.
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Acute postoperative pain is still inadequately managed, despite the presence of acute pain services (APSs). This study aimed to investigate the existence, structure, and responsibilities of Dutch APSs and to review the implementation of the Dutch Hospital Patient Safety Program (DHPSP). ⋯ Almost all hospitals have an APS. They differ in both the way they are locally organized, along with the activities they employ. Future research needs to compare the effect of patient and nonpatient-related activities of APSs on outcomes related to pain management.