Articles: pain-management.
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Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is comprised of a variety of changes in vasomotor and trophic responsivity, as well as, stiffness, edema and severe pain. This study examined 20 patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome who had failed to respond to a variety of techniques commonly used to treat this disorder. These patients had documented histories of reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome ranging from 18 to 60 months. ⋯ The results indicate that patients were able to significantly increase their initial (p less than 0.0001) and postrelaxation (p less than 0.0001) hand temperatures, as well as to significantly reduce their subjective pain ratings (p less than 0.0001). This reduction in pain was maintained at 1-year telephone follow-up, with 14 of the 20 patients returning to work by that time. This intervention was effective as a pain reduction strategy for our patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome who had failed to benefit from other treatments.
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Freedom from cancer pain is one of the four priorities of the WHO Cancer Control Programme. Every day 3.5 million people are suffering from cancer pain, and most do not receive adequate relief. A lack of training in cancer pain management at most nursing and medical schools is the principal reason for this, coupled with limited availability of oral strong opioids in many countries. ⋯ Psychological dependence does not occur in patients receiving opioids for pain relief. 11. Patients receiving analgesics must be carefully monitored. 12. Teamwork is necessary for good results.
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The possible options for the management of acute pain are quite numerous and continue to expand as our understanding of the mechanisms of pain becomes increasing sophisticated. Many of the options discussed have been available for years, and their present underutilization may be a reflection of the lack of emphasis on the importance of management of acute pain. An illustration of this would be our present ritual of prescribing narcotics postoperatively, a longstanding, but unfortunately inadequate practice. ⋯ Certain techniques, such as continuous local anesthetic infusions, may warrant an escalated level of monitoring and ancillary care. Other techniques, such as the infiltration of a wound with local anesthetic or the addition of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent to a regimen of mild oral narcotics are so simple that excluding them from patient care is almost callous and inconsiderate. Attention to the mechanisms of pain that may be present in a given situation, whether it be muscle spasm, ischemia, inflammation, edema, or nerve injury, may guide the clinician toward a more rational approach in managing that pain.
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Celiac plexus block with alcohol was performed to relieve pain in 124 patients with abdominal malignancies. A transaortic technique was employed in which a single needle was advanced from a left posterior paramedian approach through the aorta to deposit anesthetic agent directly onto the celiac plexus. ⋯ No major hemorrhagic or neurologic complications were encountered. The transaortic method of celiac block is as effective as, easier to perform, and may be safer than the classic two-needle technique.