Anesthesia & Analgesia: May 2016 – Volume 122 – Issue 5 – p 1594–1602 AUTHORS: Bihorac, Azra MD, MS et al BACKGROUND: Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SCM) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) includes predominant apical or basal regional left ventricular dysfunction (RLVD) with concomitant changes in electrocardiogram or increase in cardiac enzymes. We hypothesized that difference in outcome […]
Read MoreAnesthesia & Analgesia: May 2016 – Volume 122 – Issue 5 – p 1516–1523 AUTHORS: Lim, Grace MD et al BACKGROUND: There are many teaching methods for epidural anesthesia skill acquisition. Previous work suggests that there is no difference in skill acquisition whether novice learners engage in low-fidelity (LF) versus high-fidelity haptic simulation for epidural […]
Read MoreThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced new class-wide safety labeling changes for immediate-release (IR) opioid pain medications, which make up about 90% of all opioid prescriptions. The new labels include a new boxed warning about the risks for misuse, abuse, addiction, overdose and death. In addition, as they did in 2013 with […]
Read MoreRepeated subcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox, Allergan) provides analgesic relief to patients with neuropathic pain, a new randomized controlled trial has shown. The study showed that two series of injections were safe and effective for treating peripheral neuropathic pain, especially in a subgroup of patients with allodynia. This research is important because neuropathic […]
Read MoreFor patients undergoing genioplasty, the use of ultrasonic piezosurgery equipment reduces trauma, pain, and swelling, compared with traditional surgical drills, according to a study published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. “Piezosurgery may be a viable alternative to traditional osteotomy technique, as it reduces the degree of inflammation, pain, swelling, and morbidity, improving satisfaction and […]
Read MorePipemidic acid, phenazopyridine HCl, and sodium diclofenac are effective for pain relief following endoscopic urology surgery without side effects, and it is safe when used in combination with antibiotics and anticoagulants, according to a study presented here at the 31st Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress. However, pipemidic acid showed a superior analgesic effect […]
Read MoreResearchers have shown that patients who have chronic pain can reduce their emotional response to the pain through spinal cord stimulation. The study results are published in the latest issue of the journal Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface. “Our initial study provides insights into the role of the brain’s emotional networks in relieving chronic […]
Read MoreIn a large-scale analysis of pain-relief medication for osteoarthritis, researchers found that paracetamol does not meet the minimum standard of clinical effectiveness in reducing pain or improving physical function in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis. Although paracetamol was slightly better than placebo, researchers concluded that, taken on its own, paracetamol has no role in […]
Read MoreUse of the Airway Medix Closed Suction System (AMCSS) reduces clinical pulmonary infection scores (CPIS), endotracheal tube air flow resistance, and biofilm formation, compared with standard CSS for critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation for ≥48 hours, according to a study presented here on March 15 at the 2016 International Symposium on Intensive Care […]
Read MoreThe use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) is associated with better medical and economic outcomes in patients receiving hip and knee replacement, according to a study being presented later this month at the 41st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. The use of PNBs is on the rise, but […]
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