Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Empathy is an essential element in providing quality patient care. The significance of empathy is even more striking in pain medicine, as chronic pain is notorious for the way it can compromise an individual, leaving him or her isolated and feeling misconceived. This review examines the role of empathy in pain medicine practice. ⋯ The review reveals that empathy deserves an unchallenged place in medical care, especially in pain medicine and medical education. It highlights the need to nurture empathy at all levels of professional expertise from medical student to senior doctors.
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Pain is one of the most common symptoms in patients with cancer. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent literature regarding tapentadol use in oncology patients and moderate or severe pain. ⋯ Tapentadol is seemingly an effective, well-tolerated alternative for moderate or severe cancer pain. Most prospective cohort studies have relatively small samples, are restricted to few research centers, and lack detailed subgroup information. More experience is required to draw valid generalizable conclusions.
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Cebranopadol is a novel and highly potent analgesic acting via nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) and opioid receptors. Since NOP and opioid receptors are expressed in the central nervous system as well as in the periphery, this study addressed the question of where cebranopadol exerts its effects in animal models of chronic neuropathic pain. Mechanical hypersensitivity in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic rats, cold allodynia in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model in rats, and heat hyperalgesia and nociception in STZ-treated diabetic and control mice was determined after intraplantar (i.pl.), intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.), or intrathecal (i.th.) administration. ⋯ After central administration of cebranopadol, antihyperalgesic efficacy is reached at doses that are not yet antinociceptive. This study shows that cebranopadol is effective after peripheral as well as central administration in nociceptive and chronic neuropathic pain. Thus, it may be well-suited for the treatment of chronic pain conditions with a neuropathic component.
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Multicenter Study
Safety and Efficacy of a Pharmacist-Managed Patient-Controlled Analgesia Service in Postsurgical Patients.
To compare the safety and efficacy of a pharmacist-managed patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) service with physician/midlevel provider-managed (standard) PCA services in postsurgical patients. ⋯ A pharmacist-managed PCA service provided no difference in pain control compared to standard management. The requirement for breakthrough analgesia was decreased in the pharmacist group, while the need for antiemetic use was increased. Further research should be conducted to evaluate different PCA management strategies.