Articles: opioid-analgesics.
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This issue of the Journal contains some exceptional research articles. A few are truly "must-reads," including a fascinating look at the relationship between having a usual source of care and telomere length. Glucosamine/chrondroitin supplementation seems to be helpful for more than just arthritis pain. ⋯ This issue also features 5 articles addressing how family physicians can combat the opioid epidemic. Three articles highlight research on diabetes and another 3 on breast cancer. Payment reform, dermoscopy, and telemedicine are among many other topics covered.
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Respir Physiol Neurobiol · Nov 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialInspiratory neural drive and dyspnea in interstitial lung disease: Effect of inhaled fentanyl.
Exertional dyspnea in interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains difficult to manage despite advances in disease-targeted therapies. Pulmonary opioid receptors present a potential therapeutic target for nebulized fentanyl to provide dyspnea relief. ⋯ IND rose sharply during constant work rate exercise in association with dyspnea intensity in mild to moderate ILD but was not different after nebulized fentanyl compared with placebo.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Nov 2020
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA risk score for postoperative nausea and/or vomiting in women undergoing cesarean delivery with intrathecal morphine.
Postoperative nausea and/or vomiting affects up to 80% of parturients undergoing cesarean delivery, but there is a lack of obstetric-specific risk-prediction models. We performed this study to identify postoperative nausea/vomiting risk factors in parturients undergoing cesarean delivery, formulate an obstetric-specific prediction model (Duke score), and compare its performance against the Apfel score. ⋯ Both Duke and Apfel scores exhibited similar but poor predictive performance. Until better tools are developed, routine prophylactic anti-emetics appears to be a reasonable approach in this patient population.
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An interdisciplinary pain team was established at our institution to explore options for improving pain control in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery by identifying traits that put a patient at increased risk for inadequate pain control postoperatively. ⋯ We found a significant association between anxiety, current smoking, psychological conditions, and current opioid use with increased preoperative and postoperative reported pain score. We propose that identification of these risk factors should prompt more attention to postoperative pain control plans and will improve communication with patients and providers. We recommend a multimodal approach to postoperative pain control, and developed a pain orderset to help guide providers.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Nov 2020
Steep increases in fentanyl-related mortality west of the Mississippi River: Recent evidence from county and state surveillance.
Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl) increased 10-fold in the United States from 2013 to 2018, despite such opioids being rare in illicit drug markets west of the Mississippi River. Public health professionals have feared a "fentanyl breakthrough" in western U.S. drug markets could further accelerate overdose mortality. We evaluated the number and nature of western U.S. fentanyl deaths using the most recent data available. ⋯ Fentanyl has spread westward, increasing deaths in the short-term and threatening to dramatically worsen the nation's already severe opioid epidemic in the long-term. Increasing the standard dose of naloxone, expanding Medicaid, improving coverage of addiction treatment, and public health educational campaigns should be prioritized.