Pain management for patients with cancer--current problems in a pain clinic

One hundred and twenty-three patients with early or advanced cancer who had been referred to our pain clinic were studied retrospectively to investigate current problems with pain management for cancer patients. Pain due to advanced cancer and prolonged post-thoracotomy pain were two major reasons for referral. It was found that 51.7% of the patients with advanced cancer had not been treated appropriately with the WHO protocol for cancer pain relief before referral; however, increased administration of morphine did not necessarily relieve cancer pain, and in fact decreased the QOL of some patients; and 47.7% of patients with cancer pain were effectively treated with nerve block therapy. The present investigation also indicates that many patients who had undergone thoracotomy suffered prolonged post thoracotomy pain. Although post-thoracotomy pain was refractory to NSAIDs, trigger point injections with or without intercostal nerve block were effective in 65.4% of such patients. We conclude that further propagation of the WHO protocol for cancer pain relief, appropriate use of nerve block and establishment of practical guidelines for multidisciplinary management of pain are mandatory for improving the QOL of patients with cancer.     

Post-thoracotomy pain control

Publications on post-thoracotomy pain control obtained by Medline search were reviewed from June 1997 to July 1998. The main focus points in the past year were the effect of new surgical techniques on analgesia after thoracic surgery and the use of extrapleural catheters in the paravertebral space as a method of continuous intercostal nerve block. Epidural and patient-controlled analgesia techniques are still widely used and are mostly effective, but some patients may still have unacceptable levels of pain in the first 24 hours.     

Cryoanalgesia for post-thoracotomy pain relief

A randomized study comparing the postoperative requirements of narcotics of three groups of patients (Group I: no analgesia; Group II: internal intercostal nerve block; Group III: cryoanalgesia) was conducted. This study was performed in order to assess the efficiency of cryoanalgesia versus internal intercostal nerve block to obtain pain relief after thoracotomy. Regarding post-operative narcotic requirements (Piritramide-Dipidolor), there was no significant difference between Group I and Group II patients, but patients from Group III required a significantly lower amount of narcotics during the first 36 postoperative hours (p less than 0.01). We conclude that, although cryoanalgesia does not provide complete post-thoracotomy pain relief, it is however an easy and safe method and is more efficient than internal intercostal nerve block for pain relief after thoracotomy.     

Intercostal nerve loop as an original treatment for long-term post-thoracotomy pain

Up to now, the treatment for long-term post-thoracotomy pain has been problematic. Conservative methods, surgical, or percutaneous rhizotomies or implantation of a permanent nerve stimulator have failed in many patients, and were not without risk. Because of this, we looked for a fundamental physiologically based approach to manage this pain problem with minimal risks but long lasting effect. As most patients obtained complete temporary pain relief after an intercostal nerve block of serial dermatomes bordering the thoracotomy, nerve ischemia, nerve entrapment in scar tissue, nerve compression due to abnormal bone formation and neuroma function may all have been mechanisms resulting in pain. Subsequently, three intercostal nerve loops between the six intercostal nerves, belonging to the three ribs above and below the thoracotomy, were performed. This technique creates permanent anesthetic dermatomes, thus avoiding nociceptive afferent stimuli and preventing recurrence of aberrant nerve regeneration responsible for chronic pain. This technique was applied successfully in five cases with a mean follow-up of 13 months. As nerve regeneration has stopped at that time, neuroma formation is prevented and pain recurrence is not to be expected. We, therefore, propose that if an anatomical pain distribution pattern along the thoracotomy scar is found in patients with long-term post-thoracotomy pain, serial intercostal nerve loops might be indicated as primary treatment. Received: 28 June 1996 / Accepted: 25 February 1997     

Preliminary findings in the neurophysiological assessment of intercostal nerve injury during thoracotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Previous work has suggested that intercostal nerve injury is a major factor in the aetiology of chronic post-thoracotomy pain. The aim of this study was to establish if there was identifiable intercostal nerve injury during thoracotomy. METHODS: Intercostal nerves were stimulated and motor evoked potentials were recorded from intercostal muscles in 13 patients undergoing thoracotomy. Measurements were taken before and after entering the pleural space, after removal of the rib retractor and after intercostal space closure. RESULTS: Intercostal nerves functioned normally before and after entering the pleural space. After the rib retractor was removed, there was a total conduction block in the nerve immediately above the incision in every patient. In the nerves above this, six had a total block, one a partial block and three had normal conduction. There was a total conduction block in the nerve immediately below the incision in all but one patient. Of the nerves below this, four had a total block, two a partial block and three had normal conduction. In the cases of total conduction block, there was either a discrete block at the level of the distal end of the rib retractor or impairment throughout the whole nerve. Intercostal space closure did not injure any previously uninjured nerve. In a solitary patient where rib retraction was not employed, there was no impairment of the intercostal nerves throughout the operation. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time that intercostal nerve injury occurs routinely due to rib retraction during thoracotomy. We believe that it may be an important step toward understanding the cause of post-thoracotomy neuralgia.     

Continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block and post-thoracotomy pulmonary complications.

To evaluate the effects of continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block on post-thoracotomy pain and pulmonary complications, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 80 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy for pulmonary (n = 47) or oesophageal (n = 33) procedures. In patients who received continuous bupivacaine infusion, the requirement for intramuscular opiate and rectal diclofenac was less, the score on a visual linear analogue pain scale lower and recovery of pulmonary function more rapid than in saline-infused controls. Postoperative pulmonary complications occurred in 35% of the saline group, but only 10% of the patients with bupivacaine infusion (p < 0.01). In patients with chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD), the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was 54.5% in the saline group and only 4.5% in the bupivacaine group (p < 0.01). Among the patients without COAD there was no significant intergroup difference in such complications. We conclude that continuous extrapleural intercostal nerve block is effective for post-thoracotomy analgesia and reduces pulmonary complications of thoracotomy in patients with COAD.     

Analgesic and pulmonary effects of continuous intercostal nerve block following thoracotomy

This study examined the beneficial effects and potential systemic toxicity from continuous intercostal nerve block by repeated bolus injections of bupivacaine. In this double-blind, randomized study, 20 post-thoracotomy patients were assigned to receive four doses of either: 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine with epinephrine 5 micrograms.ml-1 (bupivacaine group, n = 10), or 20 ml preservative-free saline (placebo group, n = 10) through two indwelling intercostal catheters every six hours. Patients receiving intercostal bupivacaine injections had greater decreases in visual analogue pain scores (VAS) (P less than 0.05) and lower 24 hr morphine requirements, 16.6 +/- 4.6 mg vs 35.8 +/- 7.2 mg, than patients in the placebo group (P less than 0.05). Higher post-injection values of forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity and peaked expiratory flow rate were also observed in the bupivacaine group (P less than 0.01). Repeated intercostal bupivacaine administration did lead to systemic accumulation, but the peak bupivacaine level after 400 mg was low at 1.2 +/- 0.2 microgram.ml-1. Thus, the technique of continuous intercostal nerve block described in this study is an effective treatment for the control of post-thoracotomy pain.     

Post-thoracotomy pain and pulmonary function--comparison of intermittent intercostal bupivacaine vs intravenous pethidine

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In a prospective, observer-blind study, 50 patients scheduled for posterolateral thoracotomy were investigated to compare the effects of intermittent intercostal extrapleural bupivacaine (n = 25) and intravenous pethidine (n = 25) on post-thoracotomy pain and pulmonary function. The severity of chest pain (objectified by the use 5-point scale of Prince Henry) and changes in spirometric values [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC] were monitored during the first three postoperative days. Because intravenous pethidine was used to supplement pain relief in the patients who received intercostal analgesia, total pethidine used was compared to that administered to patients in the intravenous pethidine group. RESULTS: There were no statistical significant differences regarding patient demographics in both groups. No complications occurred. There was no significant difference between mean pain scores in the first postoperative day, but in the second and third postoperative days and also in the whole first 72 post-operative hours, pain scores were significantly higher in the intravenous group than the intercostal group. The postoperative decrease in FVC and FEV1 was significantly less with intercostal bupivacaine compared with the intravenous pethidine. There was no significant intergroup difference in the post- to pre-operative FEV1/FVC ratio. The total amount of the pethidine received by the patients was significantly higher in the intravenous group than the intercostal group. CONCLUSION: Intermittent intercostal nerve block with bupivacaine appears to be a promising, safe and reliable technique in the management of post-thoracotomy pain. Use of intercostal bupivacaine could significantly reduce or even eliminate the postoperative need for systemic narcotics.     

A case report of long-term post-thoracotomy pain management with intrapleural bupivacaine

A 50-year old woman with right post-thoracotomy pain was referred to us for assistance with pain control. She required pentazocine 60-150 mg per day before our treatment. First, we treated her with intercostal nerve block or oral morphine sulfate. But the result was not satisfactory after five months. Then we tried intrapleural bupivacaine. An epidural catheter was inserted into the pleural space from eight intercostal space at the anterior axillary line and 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine was instilled. The treatment was effective for about 4-5 hours. We continued this method for 42 days with 10 ml of 0.25% or 0.5% bupivacaine once or twice a day. She felt so good from the intrapleural analgesia and could be discharged. There was no hypotension, respiratory depression, urinary retention except burning thoracic sensation. We think it is possible to use this intrapleural bupivacaine to treat a certain kind of unilateral chronic pain.     

A study of regional nerve blocks and local anesthetic creams (Prilox) for donor sites in burn patients

BACKGROUND: Burn patient requires multiple visits to the operation theatres and undergoing anesthesia with its attendant risks and post anesthesia recovery. It is possible now with the availability of local anesthetic creams like Prilox to conduct these procedures in the minor OT without any discomfort to the patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hundred patients of post burn raw areas were selected. These patients had at least one area of healthy skin on anterior, medial or lateral thigh. No patient had a known drug allergy. The age group varied from 5 to 75 years with no bias towards any sex. These patients were then given anesthesia according to the group, and were assessed for the ease of grafting, amount of graft being harvested, subjective pain score, post operative pain relief and any post operative complication. The nerve block technique being used was either femoral and/or LCT block or 3-in-1 block and popliteal fossa block. RESULTS: Both the group of patients had a virtual painless process of skin grafting. It is safe in selected patients to combine the two techniques in order to harvest larger areas. DISCUSSION: Both techniques of local anesthestic creams and nerve block are safe and convenient to use. Nerve blocks are more useful where larger grafts are required, the creams being more useful in children and where less graft is required.     

Postoperative pain relief and regional techniques

The methods of providing postoperative analgesia by regional anaesthetic techniques with local anaesthetics are outlined. For the use of epidural analgesia, the techniques of inserting an epidural catheter at any level of the spine must be familiar. The block should be regional, restricted to the area of pain and effective at all times after its institution with a minimum of side effects. Bupivacaine is at present the best local anaesthetic and can be administered either as intermittent injections with an interval of 1-2 hours or as a continuous infusion. A dose regimen for thoracic, abdominal, perineal and lower extremity pain is presented. Side effects of the epidural technique and ways to treat and avoid them are discussed. The intercostal nerve block for post-thoracotomy and upper abdominal pain is described with special reference to the recent development of the continuous technique with bupivacaine and the cryoanalgesia technique.     

The efficacy of intraoperative internal intercostal nerve block during video-assisted thoracic surgery on postoperative pain

Background. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is widely used for many thoracic surgical procedures. Postoperative pain is less after VATS than after conventional thoracic surgery, but is still significant. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of thoracoscopic, internal intercostal nerve block in alleviating immediate postoperative pain.

Methods. Thirty-two patients underwent VATS bilateral sympathectomy for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. The patients were randomly divided into two groups with similar demographic and preoperative physiologic parameters. Group A (n = 16) was submitted to thoracoscopic, internal intercostal nerve blocks performed at T2, T3, and T4 intercostal levels using 3 cc of 0.5% bupivacain in each intercostal space. The injections were performed bilaterally, immediately after the sympathectomy, through the same port. Group B (n = 16) underwent bilateral thoracic sympathectomy without the block. During the immediate postoperative period, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, pain score, and analgesic requirements were monitored every 30 minutes.

Results. No morbidity was recorded in association with the thoracoscopic, internal intercostal nerve block. The mean heart rates (77 ± 6 vs 89 ± 12 beats per minute, p < 0.001), respiratory rates (15 ± 2 vs 18 ± 3 respirations per minute, p < 0.01), pain score (1.9 ± 0.6 vs 2.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.01), and postoperative analgesic requirements (20 ± 18 vs 50 ± 21 mg pethidine HCL, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in group A. There was no significant difference in blood pressures.

Conclusions. Thoracoscopic, internal intercostal nerve block with bupivacain 0.5% during VATS is safe and effectively reduced the immediate postoperative pain and analgesic requirements.     

Pre-emptive effect of multimodal analgesia in thoracic surgery

Thirty subjects undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy were allocated randomly to receive one of two analgesic regimens: group Pre received i.v. morphine, i.m. diclofenac and intercostal nerve blocks from T2 to T11, 20 min before operation and placebo injections after operation. Group Post received placebo injections before operation, and i.v. morphine, i.m. diclofenac and intercostal nerve blocks from T2 to T11 at the end of surgery, before discontinuation of anaesthesia. Visual analogue pain scores, extent and duration of intercostal nerve block, analgesic consumption and complications were assessed during the postoperative period by a single blinded observer. Subjects were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months to determine the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome. During the first 48 h after operation there were lower pain scores in group Pre when taking a vital capacity breath but there were no significant differences between the groups in any other measure. The effects of pre-emptive analgesia given before surgery appeared to be relatively modest in terms of analgesia, analgesic consumption and long-term outcome and were of limited clinical significance.      

阴部神经阻滞在痔手术中的应用

目的探讨阴部神经阻滞麻醉在痔切除手术中应用的临床效果。方法对两组各25例Ⅲ、Ⅳ度痔患者分别采用阴部神经阻滞麻醉及腰部麻醉,分别观察比较两组患者手术操作时间,术中麻醉效果,术后第一次疼痛的时间,最大疼痛分级,术后继发出血、尿潴留及恶心、呕吐情况。结果两组患者在手术操作时间及术中麻醉效果的比较上无显著性差异（P〉0.05）;阴部神经阻滞组术后第一次疼痛时间13.53±1.82 h相比腰部麻醉组6.15±2.60 h明显延长（P〈0.05）;阴部神经阻滞组在各时段最大疼痛分级明显优于腰部麻醉组（P〈0.05）;阴部神经阻滞组术后尿潴留及恶心、呕吐发生率比腰部麻醉组明显减少（P〈0.05）。结论阴部神经阻滞麻醉用于痔手术,麻醉效果好,镇痛时间长,降低了常规腰部麻醉带来的痔术后并发症的发生,并为门诊手术开展提供技术支持。     

Cryoanalgesia after thoracotomy. Improvement of technique and review of 600 cases

The efficacy of cryoanalgesia for the control of post-thoracotomy pain has led to the acceptance of the technique as a routine procedure in this unit. A study of 600 consecutive patients in whom an improved technique was used is not reported. The freezing time for each intercostal nerve in this group was reduced to one 30 second exposure instead of the two 30 second exposures previously used. This reduced the duration of cutaneous numbness, with no loss of pain control. Freezing above the fifth intercostal nerve is no longer practiced in women. Modification to the probe has simplified the procedure. Pulmonary function studies and blood-gas analysis are also described.     

Thoracic epidural local anesthetics are ineffective in alleviating post-thoracotomy ipsilateral shoulder pain

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to estimate the incidence and clinical predictors of post-thoracotomy shoulder pain and to determine the effectiveness of thoracic epidural block in alleviating this pain. DESIGN: A prospective clinical trial. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS and INTERVENTIONS: Thirty-two adult patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery consented to participate in the study. All operations were open thoracotomies done by the same team of surgeons and anesthesiologists. A thoracic (T6) epidural catheter was placed before induction of general anesthesia. Each patient received 7 mL of lidocaine 2% epidurally and repeated doses of 5 mL of lidocaine 2% every half hour during the operation. Postoperatively, the occurrence of incision or ipsilateral shoulder pain was observed and treated with a maximal dose of 5 mL of lidocaine 2%. If ineffective, indomethacin suppository (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID]) was given. Variables such as patient's age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, type, site and duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, the resection of main bronchus, and the use of thoracostomy tubes were recorded. MEASUREMENTS and MAIN RESULTS: Postoperatively, 10 patients (31%) had shoulder pain, 4 patients (12.5%) complained of incision pain, and 2 (6.3%) complained of both incision and shoulder pain. A bolus of 5 mL of lidocaine 2% in the epidural catheter relieved incision pain in all the patients, but was ineffective for shoulder pain. Indomethacin suppository was effective in these patients. No correlation was found between any variable and the occurrence of shoulder pain. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that post-thoracotomy shoulder pain is a common problem, and the previously mentioned variables did not predict its appearance. Thoracic epidural block is effective in the treatment of incision but not shoulder pain. The NSAID indomethacin suppository was found to be effective for that problem.     

超声引导下前锯肌平面阻滞用于微创心血管外科手术的研究进展

与传统开胸手术比较,微创心血管外科手术具有手术切口小、阿片类药物用量少、术后拔管早、恢复快等优点,但术后疼痛仍较为明显。随着可视化技术及快速康复外科理念普及,区域阻滞技术成功率和安全性大大提高,阻滞范围也逐渐由中枢性阻滞转移至周围神经阻滞,使其在微创心血管外科手术中的应用也越来越广泛。前锯肌平面阻滞（SAPB）是一种安全有效的筋膜平面阻滞技术,通过超声引导使局麻药在前锯肌间隙扩散,有效阻滞肋间神经外侧皮支,浸润胸长神经及胸背神经,为前外侧胸壁提供术中和术后镇痛。本文就超声引导下SAPB在不同类型微创心血管外科手术中应用的现状、优势及不足进行综述,为其临床应用提供参考。     

Bloqueio paravertebral torácico guiado por ultrassom para correção de ileostomia em alça em DPOC grave: um relato de caso

Background and objectives

Ultrasound‐guided thoracic paravertebral block is usually considered a good alternative to epidural thoracic for anesthesia and pain control in thoracic and breast surgery. Furthermore it has also been used during abdominal surgery lately, especially hepatic and renal surgery. However, its role is poorly defined in this context. The purpose of this report was to highlight the role of thoracic paravertebral block in providing effective anesthesia and analgesia during both the abdominal surgical intervention and pain control in post‐operative period, avoiding possible complications which general anesthesia may arise, which are fairly common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and similar comorbidities.

Chest trauma in a developing country.

In a developing country with inadequate clinical facilities a conservative method of management of a major clinical problem is often the only rational approach. This policy was adopted in the management of 145 patients with chest trauma in a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Automobile accidents were the cause of the thoracic injuries in 73.1% of the patients; 71.7% of the patients were managed as in-patients. The management of the patients was essentially aimed at correction of hypovolaemia, tube drainage of pleural collections, and relief of pain by intercostal nerve block. Major operative procedures were adopted in 11 cases (7.6%) for persistent haemothorax or for pyothorax, ruptured diaphragm, ruptured abdominal viscus, and subdural haematona. No operative reduction of rib fractures was performed and only 1 of the 12 patients with flail chest was mechanically ventilated. The hospital mortality was 9.7% and, despite a high rate of default at follow-up attendances, no late death or serious complication was recorded. Th aspects peculiar to chest trauma in Nigeria are discussed.     

Intra-operative ketamine administration reduced the level of post-thoracotomy pain

BACKGROUND: Two different types of post-operative pain (such as acute pain and chronic pain) occur in patients undergoing thoracotomy. It has been suggested that the acute post-thoracotomy pain consists of inflammatory pain and chronic post-thoracotomy pain caused by intercostal neuralgia. In the present study, we examined the effect of intra-operative administration of ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, on the acute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain. METHODS: Sixteen patients were assigned to one of two groups (ketamine or control). The ketamine group received a ketamine bolus (1 mg x kg(-1)) just before the skin incision, followed by continuous infusion of ketamine (1 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1)) during surgery. RESULTS: Verbal rating scores (VRSs) at rest and on cough were significantly lower in the ketamine group on day 1 and VRS of chronic pain was also significantly lower in the ketamine group 4 weeks after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that post-thoracotomy pain might be mediated by NMDA receptor dependent central sensitization and that the intra-operative administration of ketamine might block the development of the NMDA receptor dependent central sensitization.