Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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It is often difficult to concurrently provide adequate analgesia while minimizing opioid requirements following ambulatory surgery. Nonthermal, pulsed shortwave (radiofrequency) fields are a noninvasive treatment used as an adjunct analgesic and wound healing therapy. The devices may be placed by nursing staff in less than a minute, are relatively inexpensive and readily available, theoretically provide analgesia for nearly any anatomic location, and have no systemic side effects-patients cannot detect any sensations from the devices-or significant risks. Here we present a case series to demonstrate the use of pulsed, electromagnetic field devices for outpatient herniorrhaphy and breast surgery. ⋯ These cases demonstrate that the ambulatory use of pulsed shortwave devices is feasible and may be an effective analgesic, possibly obviating opioid requirements following outpatient herniorrhaphy and breast surgery. Considering the lack of any side effects, adverse events, and misuse/dependence/diversion potential, further study with a randomized, controlled trial appears warranted.
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Fulfilling educational needs in pain management should be a lifelong process, even involving physicians board certified in pain medicine such as the anesthesiologists/pain therapists. The aim of the study was to investigate Italian anesthesiologists' self-perceived competency, confidence, and interest to attend educational programs in relation to their seniority in pain management. ⋯ This work provides first evidence of a summative assessment of competency and related educational needs' profile of anesthesiologists/pain therapists thus paving the way for developing a nationwide educational program to improve chronic pain care in Italy.