Articles: pain-management.
-
Mayo Clinic proceedings · Jul 2022
Adherence to a Mediterranean Lifestyle and Changes in Frequency, Severity, and Localization of Pain in Older Adults.
To assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle and changes in pain, and its characteristics over time in older adults. ⋯ A Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with improvement of pain characteristics in older adults. Experimental studies should assess the efficacy of an integral lifestyle approach for the management of pain in older adults.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Jul 2022
Case ReportsSupporting a Learning System in Pediatric Emergency Pathways: Using Organizational Comparisons, Serious Incidents, and Near-Miss Events to Improve the Diagnosis and Treatment of Testicular Torsion.
Scrotal pain is a common presentation to the emergency department requiring prompt investigation and management to identify testicular torsion and increase the opportunity for testicular salvage. Using national data obtained from the NHS Improvement, we aim to identify key suboptimal areas in the acute diagnosis and management of testicular torsion with a view to learning from these and improving outcomes. ⋯ There is a need for education in ED about atypical presentation of testicular torsion and examination of scrotum in cases of lower abdominal pain. It is also vital that specialist teams are cognizant of the standard operating procedures relevant to scrotal pain and testicular within the organization and the wider clinical network. Finally, there should be a drive for annual collation of data in urology and ED units with regards to testicular torsion as patient safety incidents may be underreported.
-
Older adults may experience a number of physiological changes that influence how acute pain is perceived, diagnosed and managed by healthcare professionals. Understanding these differences enables the identification, assessment and treatment of acute pain in older adults. Combining careful selection of pain medications with appropriate titration and monitoring allows the analgesic needs of this group to be met.
-
In the past several years, many national events have illuminated the inequities faced by the Black community in all aspects of life, including healthcare. To close the gap in healthcare equity, it is imperative that clinicians examine their practices for disparities in the treatment of minority patients and for racial injustice and take responsibility for improving any issues. ⋯ In this paper, we identify the areas of medicine in which pain assessment and treatment are not equitably delivered. As we acknowledge these disparities, we will highlight reasons for these incongruences in care and clarify how clinicians can act to ensure that all patients are treated equitably, with equal levels of compassion.
-
Shoulder dislocations are a common presenting injury to the emergency department (ED), with anterior dislocations comprising the majority of these cases. Some patients may tolerate gentle manipulation and reduction, but many require analgesia of some type. Oral or parenteral pain medication is often used alone or in combination with procedural sedation if gentle manipulation fails to achieve reduction. Recently, this treatment algorithm has grown to include regional anesthesia as a mode of analgesia for reduction of shoulder dislocations in the form of brachial plexus blocks. It has been well described that the interscalene and supraclavicular approach to the brachial plexus can be used to assist in reduction of anterior shoulder dislocations; however, there has yet to be any published literature regarding the use of ultrasound-guided retroclavicular approach to the infraclavicular region (RAPTIR) brachial plexus blocks for shoulder reduction. ⋯ We describe three patients who presented to the ED with anterior shoulder dislocations. The RAPTIR block was performed, provided effective analgesia, and facilitated successful shoulder reduction in all three patients.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? The RAPTIR nerve block is a safe and effective option for analgesia in the patient with an anterior shoulder dislocation. It may have advantages over other brachial nerve blocks and avoids the risks and disadvantages of procedural sedation and opioids.