Author: Dr Clemens

Uncategorized Published - 24 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Spinal and Nucleus Caudalis Dorsal Root Entry Zone Lesioning for Chronic Pain: Efficacy and Outcomes

Published in World Neurosurgery April 2015 Authors: Chivukula S et al BACKGROUND The role for nucleus caudalis (NC) and spinal dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning in the management of chronic pain emanating from increased electrical activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and brainstem remains largely uncharted. METHODS All patients that underwent […]

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Uncategorized Published - 24 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Easy to Harm, Hard to Heal: Patient views about the Back

Published in Spine Mar 2015 Authors: Darlow B. et al STUDY DESIGN Qualitative interview study Objective. Explore attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions related to low back pain (LBP), and analyze how these might influence the perceived threat associated with back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Psychological factors which contribute to the perceived threat associated with LBP […]

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Uncategorized Published - 24 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Impaired Sleep Linked to Lower Pain Tolerance

People with insomnia and other sleep problems have increased sensitivity to pain, according to a study published in the journal Pain. The effect on pain tolerance appears strongest in people who suffer from both insomnia and chronic pain, who may benefit from treatments targeting both conditions. The study included more than 10,400 adults from a […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
The Contribution of Differential Opioid Responsiveness to Identification of Opioid Risk in Chronic Pain Patients

J Pain 2015 Jul;16(7):666-75. Authors: Bruehl S et al Abstract The Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain-Revised (SOAPP-R) predicts increased risk of opioid misuse in chronic pain patients. We evaluated whether higher SOAPP-R scores are associated with greater opioid reinforcing properties, potentially contributing to their predictive utility. Across 2 counterbalanced laboratory sessions, 55 chronic low […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation preceding cognitive behavioural management for chronic low back pain: sham controlled double blinded randomised controlled trial

BMJ. April 2015; 350: h1640. Authors: Kerstin Luedtke postdoctoral researcher, et al Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation alone and in combination with cognitive behavioural management in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Design Double blind parallel group randomised controlled trial with six months’ follow-up conducted May 2011-March 2013. Participants, physiotherapists, assessors, and […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Safety of deep sedation in young children with sickle cell disease: a retrospective cohort study

J Pediatr 2015 May;166(5):1226-32 Authors: Belmont AP et al OBJECTIVE: To assess the rates and types of complications associated with deep sedation in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to explore potential risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of children with SCD and a comparison group of children without SCD who underwent […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Neurocognitive dysfunction risk alleviation with the use of dexmedetomidine in perioperative conditions or as ICU sedation: a meta-analysis

Medicine (Baltimore) 2015 Apr;94(14):e597 Authors: Li B et al Abstract Many studies have reported the beneficial effects of dexmedetomidine on postoperative neurocognitive function but overall evidence is not as clear. We examined this conundrum by meta-analyzing studies that used dexmedetomidine in perioperative conditions or as intensive care unit (ICU) sedation and utilized reliable neurocognitive assessment tests. The […]

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Uncategorized Published - 23 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
FDA OKs First Patient-Controlled Patch for Postop Pain

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system (Ionsys, The Medicines Co), the first needle-free, patient-controlled, preprogrammed fentanyl delivery system for management of acute postoperative pain in adults requiring opioid analgesia in the hospital, according to a company news release. Ionsys is a “novel alternative” to traditional intravenous patient-controlled analgesia that uses […]

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Uncategorized Published - 22 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Comparison of the efficacy and safety of sedation between dexmedetomidine-remifentanil and propofol-remifentanil during endoscopic submucosal dissection

World J Gastroenterol 2015 Mar 28;21(12):3671-8. Authors: Kim N et al AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of sedation protocols for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) between dexmedetomidine-remifentanil and propofol-remifentanil. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients scheduled for ESD were randomly allocated into a dexmedetomidine-remifentanil (DR) group or a propofol-remifentanil (PR) group. To control patient anxiety, dexmedetomidine or propofol was […]

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Uncategorized Published - 22 July, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Impact of inhalation vs. intravenous anaesthesia on autonomic nerves and internal anal sphincter tone

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2015 Apr 21 Authors: Heid F et al BACKGROUND: Pelvic intraoperative neuromonitoring (pIONM) aims to identify and spare the autonomic nerves and maintain patients’ quality of life. The effect of anaesthetic agents on the pIONM signal is unknown; therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the influences of inhalation anaesthesia (IA) […]

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