Articles: analgesics.
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2024
Persistent Opioid Use After Hospital Admission From Surgery in New Zealand: A Population-Based Study.
Persistent opioid use (POU) is common after surgery and is associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. There have been no population-based studies exploring POU in opioid-naïve surgical patients in New Zealand (NZ). This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for POU in opioid-naïve patients undergoing surgery in all NZ hospitals. ⋯ Approximately 1 in 11 opioid-naïve patients who were dispensed opioids on surgical discharge, developed POU. Potentially modifiable risk factors for POU, related to how opioids were prescribed included changing opioids after discharge, receiving multiple opioids, and higher total dose of opioids given on discharge. Clinicians should discuss the possibility of developing POU with patients before and after surgery and consider potentially modifiable risk factors for POU when prescribing analgesia on discharge after surgery.
-
Background: Buprenorphine initiation in opioid-tolerant patients usually requires decreasing the total opioid intake per day due to its potential for precipitating withdrawal. However, this strategy may not be tolerated in patients who require higher amounts of opioids, such as those with cancer pain. Case Presentation: We utilized a buprenorphine microdosing strategy for a postoperative cancer patient who was previously taking buprenorphine-naloxone for chronic noncancer pain, then initiated on methadone for uncontrolled cancer-related pain. ⋯ He subsequently underwent a successful transition from methadone to buprenorphine-naloxone through microdosing in one week with close monitoring in the inpatient setting. Conclusions: Using a microdosing strategy to transition from methadone to buprenorphine-naloxone in a span of days was achieved in this case report. More research regarding the feasibility and tolerability of microinductions is needed, especially in the setting of chronic pain or cancer-related pain.
-
Journal of anesthesia · Oct 2024
Comparative StudyComparison of patient-controlled epidural analgesia and epidural morphine for post-cesarean section analgesia: experience from a tertiary center in China.
To compare patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) and epidural morphine (EM) for post-cesarean section analgesia in real-world experience from China. ⋯ The use of PCEA was an independent protective factor for supplementary analgesia during the post-cesarean section. Prophylactic antiemetic therapy may reduce the side effects of post-cesarean analgesia.
-
Background: Naldemedine, a peripherally acting opioid μ receptor antagonist, is effective for prevention of opioid-induced constipation (OIC); however, evidence on its use in children is limited. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of naldemedine in pediatric patients with OIC. Design, Setting/Subjects: Retrospective analysis of 32 pediatric patients with OIC treated with naldemedine in a single institution in Japan from June 2017 to March 2021. ⋯ Conclusions: In pediatric patients, naldemedine resulted in a high rate of BM response and increased the BM frequency, indicating its efficacy. In some patients, grade 2 diarrhea required naldemedine discontinuation, suggesting that it should be used with caution in pediatric patients. Further studies are warranted to determine the optimal naldemedine dose in pediatric patients.
-
Many pregnant and postpartum individuals who misuse prescription opioids report either physical or psychological pain. The pain-related factors underlying perinatal opioid misuse are poorly understood. ⋯ The participants' shared experiences provide insights for targeted pain-related nursing interventions that could help reduce the initiation and perpetuation of misuse and assist the journey to recovery.