Treating pain related to inoperable pancreatic cancer in tropical areas: the advantage of CT-guided celiac plexus block and splanchnic nerves neurolysis

Many sub-Saharan African countries have recently acquired computed tomography scanners that make interventional radiology possible, especially for the treatment of cancer pain. We report the case of a patient with severe abdominal pain related to advanced pancreas cancer. After unsuccessful morphine treatment, he underwent CT-guided alcohol injection for neurolysis of the celiac plexus and splanchnic nerves. This report describes the technique and discusses its potential applications in tropical countries.     

Phenol saddle blocks for intractable pain at end of life: report of four cases and literature review

Four cancer patients with prior bladder diversions had phenol neurolytic saddle blocks performed for intractable pelvi-sacral pain. All patients had advanced disease, the focus of their treatment being palliative. Treatment limiting side effects precluded further upward titration of systemic analgesic therapies. Pain control improved after intrathecal neurolysis and allowed a greater than 60 percent reduction in systemic opiate dosage. No significant block-related adverse effects were encountered. The value and technical aspects of intrathecal saddle blocks in end-of-life pain management is discussed.     

阿片转换在吗啡不耐受的癌痛患者的临床研究

目的 旨在前瞻性地评估晚期癌痛患者对吗啡敏感的个体差异及转换应用另一种阿片类药物止痛治疗的需要、临床获益与不良反应.方法 对238例使用口服吗啡的中重度癌痛患者进行评估,是否存在吗啡不耐受.将评估为吗啡不耐受的60例患者随机分为两组:转换应用口服羟考酮(羟考酮组)或芬太尼透皮贴剂(芬太尼组)各30例.阿片转换10 d后采用疼痛强度数字评分量表评价临床疗效,并比较羟考酮和芬太尼两组的临床疗效与不良反应.结果 发现有74.8％ (178/238)的患者使用吗啡止痛有良好的疗效,25.2％ (60/238)患者对吗啡不耐受.行阿片转换治疗的患者中,76.7％ (46/60)的患者成功控制了疼痛,但羟考酮组与芬太尼组在疗效方面比较无差异(70.0％ vs 83.3％,P=0.222).60例患者阿片转换前后发生便秘(63.3％ vs 18.3％,P=0.000)及恶心呕吐(55.0％ vs 21.7％,P=0.000)等不良反应的差异有统计学意义,但两组比较无差异.结论 对于吗啡不耐受的癌痛患者转换应用口服羟考酮或芬太尼贴剂能显著提高疼痛控制率,改善患者生活质量.     

Intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) for cancer pain management: a review and updates

Cancer pain remains undertreated and a significant number of patients with cancer pain die from severe untreated pain. With increasing survival rate in cancer, the prevalence of cancer pain is also increasing in number. Though majority of patients with cancer pain can be effectively treated with conventional medical management, still a significant portion of patients required some form of interventional pain management techniques. Among the interventional techniques, intrathecal drug delivery is increasingly used in cancer pain management. Our objective of this article is to review literatures and clinical studies on intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) in cancer pain management and to provide updates on its use, precautions, contraindications, side effects and its management, socioeconomic consideration, and management of IDDS in difficult or uncommon situations.     

Medication-focused approach to total pain: poor symptom control,polypharmacy, and adverse reactions

Neuropathic pain, known to have poor opioid response, can be difficult to control. Although several classes of adjuvant medications are believed to be of benefit in managing neuropathic pain, they have potential side effects that occasionally outweigh their benefits. The psychospiritual suffering of patients with advanced cancer may heighten the distress associated with physical symptoms. If undiagnosed, this may lead to increases in dose and the number of medications administered in the hope of better symptom control. This case report describes the successful interdisciplinary management of an advanced cancer patient whose multiple drug therapy had added to rather than alleviated his distress by causing more side effects than symptom relief.     

Treatment of pain in cancer with systemically administered opioids

The World Health Organization guidelines for cancer pain relief have been proven efficacious in 90% of the patients with cancer pain. The patient's self-report of pain is the focus of treatment. When initiating treatment, controlled-release preparations of opioids are generally favoured, and are combined with immediate release morphine to prevent or treat 'breakthrough' pain and to enable the optimum opioid dosage to be calculated. (Breakthrough pain is a transient increase in pain in a patient who has stable, persistent pain treated with opioids.) In patients with an unfavourable balance between analgesia and side effects, the following strategies may be useful, together with appropriate treatment of the side effects: Sequential opioid trials (so-called opioid rotation) is an approach which is effective in 50-70% of the patients. Changing the route of opioid administration is successful in 70-95% of the patients. When selecting an invasive technique, continuous subcutaneous infusion is medically preferred. Spinal analgesia is an alternative. Knowledge of the relative potency of opioid drugs and of their biologic availability is needed to guide changes in drugs or routes of administration.     

食管狭窄患者介入成形术的围手术期护理

目的:探讨食管狭窄行介入成形术患者围手术期的护理方法。方法:对32例食管狭窄患者在X线监视下采用介入性球囊导管扩张技术和带膜内支架植入治疗,术前做好物品准备、病人准备,术中给予密切配合,术后加强并发症观察与护理、饮食指导。结果:32例患者单纯行球囊扩张18例,共扩张32次;14例患者行球囊扩张后立即放置食管支架成形,共放置带膜内支架19枚,均一次置入成功,位置准确,无腹痛、消化道大出血和穿孔等严重并发症。结论:介入成形术治疗食管狭窄简单易行、安全可靠,科学规范的围手术期护理是手术成功和疗效的重要保障。     

剖宫产术后腹壁切口子宫内膜异位症27例临床分析

目的:探讨剖宫产手术后腹壁切口子宫内膜异位症诊断、治疗及预防。方法:对27例剖宫产术后腹壁切口子宫内膜异位症的患者进行回顾性分析和总结。结果:剖宫产术后腹壁切口子宫内膜异位症是剖宫产术后远期并发症之一,多发生在剖宫产术后2年左右,临床表现有包块、疼痛、周期性症状的特点。结论:手术切除包块是治疗腹壁切口子宫内膜异位症最有效的方法,降低剖宫产率,提倡母乳喂养,预防剖宫产术中子宫内膜种植。     

Peritoneal catheter site metastasis in a patient with advanced ovarian cancer

Refractory ascites can significantly reduce quality of life in patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer. Paracentesis is a commonly used procedure for the management of refractory ascites. However, there are potential risks associated with paracentesis such as pain, infection, and injury to intra-abdominal organs. In an effort to decrease the number of serial paracentesis, placement of intraperitoneal catheters has been described for the management of intractable ascites. Here we describe a case of metastasis involving a palliative peritoneal catheter in a patient with recurrent ovarian cancer.     

电针治疗急腹痛100例临床观察

目的观察电针足三里、天枢穴为主治疗急腹痛的疗效。方法对100例急性腹痛患者采用电针足三里、天枢穴治疗，观察其临床效果。结果治愈82例，治愈率82％；好转18例，好转率18％；总有效率100％。结论电针足三里、天枢穴为主治疗急性腹痛，止痛迅速，简便易行，无副作用。     

Pain and Anxiety Experienced by Patients Following Placement of a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

Background: Abdominal pain following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement is a recognized complication. However, the prevalence and degree of severity of pain are poorly characterized. We assessed abdominal pain and anxiety levels associated with PEG placement in communicative and noncommunicative patients. Methods: A prospective questionnaire assessed patients' anxiety and abdominal pain 1 hour before, 1 hour after, and 24 hours after PEG placement using 11‐point Likert‐type scales. Patients were followed up until pain had resolved. Procedural data, analgesia requirements, and complications were recorded. For analysis, patients were divided into 2 groups: communicative (able to self‐assess) and noncommunicative (clinician assessed). Results: Seventy consecutive patients were assessed. Of the 49 self‐assessed patients, 11 (22%) reported immediate pain, 32 (65%) reported pain at 1 hour (24 mild, 5 moderate, 3 severe), and 40 (82%) reported pain at 24 hours. Pain most commonly lasted between 24 and 48 hours (25 patients). Of the 21 clinician‐assessed patients, only 1 was deemed to have pain, and this was at 24 hours. Four (6%) patients were admitted with pain. There was no relationship between preplacement anxiety scores and postplacement pain scores. Discussion: Abdominal pain after PEG placement pain is common but resolved by 48 hours in most patients. In patients able to communicate, clinicians scored pain lower compared with patients' scores. It is likely that pain is not identified in patients unable to communicate. Patients need to be better informed about the possibility of postprocedural pain and routinely offered access to appropriate analgesia.     

The use of transdermal fentanyl in pediatric oncology palliative care.

Transdermal fentanyl offers a noninvasive approach to the management of patients with opioid dependent and stable, chronic cancer pain. The transdermal delivery system offers distinct advantages where oral administration of opioids is difficult as a consequence of progressive disease and in patients whose compliance with oral medications is poor. Thirteen patients ranging in age from three years and nine months to 18 years and seven months were treated with transdermal fentanyl for between six hours and 112 days. All had previously been receiving oral morphine prior to the commencement of fentanyl and were transferred to fentanyl because of oral opioid side effects and poor oral compliance. Fentanyl was well tolerated and provided effective pain relief for 11 of 13 patients. Overall, patients and parents experienced satisfaction with fentanyl, both in terms of pain relief and improvement in quality of life.     

Methadone for cancer pain: what have we learned from clinical studies?

The analgesic ladder guideline proposed by the World Health Organization has been shown to be effective in controlling cancer pain in about 80 percent of patients, but the remaining 20 percent still experience pain. Several strategies have been used to manage refractory cancer pain and opioid toxicity. Switching opioids, alternative routes of opioid administration, optimizing adjuvants, and invasive procedures are proposed treatments. Extensive medical literature corroborates each one of those treatments. Rotation from one opioid to another is a noninvasive strategy to overcome opioid side effects and refractory pain. Frequently, methadone is used during opioid rotation. However, there is a lack of consensus on how to proceed on rotation from morphine to methadone. In the current era of evidence-based medicine, the medical literature fails to answer some cancer pain-management issues. The purpose of this review is to clarify a process for transitioning from morphine to methadone.     

中晚期宫颈癌三维适形放疗联合介入化疗的疗效分析

目的探讨三维适形放射治疗（three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy,3DCRT）＋介入化疗治疗中、晚期宫颈癌的疗效。方法 2008年3月-2009年3月选取80例在本院被确诊为Ⅱb~Ⅲ期的宫颈癌患者为研究对象,将其随机分为试验组（n=40,三维适形放疗＋介入化疗）和对照组（n=40,三维适形放疗＋静脉化疗）（研究遵循程序符合本院人体试验委员会制定的伦理学标准,得到该委员会批准,分组征得患者知情同意,并与患者签署临床研究知情同意书）,比较两组疗效和不良反应,并随访2年以上。结果试验组患者完全缓解率、2年生存率均高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;骨髓抑制、胃肠道系统不良反应严重程度明显低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;泌尿系统不良反应两组比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论三维适形放疗＋介入化疗是治疗中、晚期宫颈癌的有效方法,不良反应程度轻、疗效高,值得临床上推广应用。     

Milk Intolerance,Beta-Casein and Lactose

True lactose intolerance (symptoms stemming from lactose malabsorption) is less common than is widely perceived, and should be viewed as just one potential cause of cows’ milk intolerance. There is increasing evidence that A1 beta-casein, a protein produced by a major proportion of European-origin cattle but not purebred Asian or African cattle, is also associated with cows’ milk intolerance. In humans, digestion of bovine A1 beta-casein, but not the alternative A2 beta-casein, releases beta-casomorphin-7, which activates μ-opioid receptors expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract and body. Studies in rodents show that milk containing A1 beta-casein significantly increases gastrointestinal transit time, production of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and the inflammatory marker myeloperoxidase compared with milk containing A2 beta-casein. Co-administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone blocks the myeloperoxidase and gastrointestinal motility effects, indicating opioid signaling pathway involvement. In humans, a double-blind, randomized cross-over study showed that participants consuming A1 beta-casein type cows’ milk experienced statistically significantly higher Bristol stool values compared with those receiving A2 beta-casein milk. Additionally, a statistically significant positive association between abdominal pain and stool consistency was observed when participants consumed the A1 but not the A2 diet. Further studies of the role of A1 beta-casein in milk intolerance are needed.     

Coeliac plexus block in patients with pancreatic tumour pain

Pancreatic cancer tends to be diagnosed at a relatively late stage of the disease when curative resection is precluded. In view of the poor prognosis and the severe pain, palliative care should be aimed at providing adequate pain relief and optimal quality of life. Pancreatic cancer pain is primarily treated by the combination of NSAIDs, adjuvant analgesic drugs, and oral or transdermal opioids. The neurolytic coeliac plexus block is recommended as adjuvant therapy for the palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer pain. In addition quality of life, especially functional and physical aspects, is significantly improved in patients following a coeliac plexus block. The most common approach to the coeliac plexus is the percutaneous posterior technique. Serious complications that may follow application of this technique include sensory disorders, muscle weakness and paraparesis. More recently, new techniques such as thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy and endoscopic ultrasound-guided coeliac plexus block have emerged as efficient alternatives in terms of pain relief and quality-of-life improvement. The neurolytic coeliac plexus block has become a well-developed method of pain relief in patients with pain resulting from malignancies of the pancreas. To define the role of these new techniques in the palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer pain, comparative studies regarding efficacy, side effects, and complications have to be performed.     

Continuous spinal analgesia by means of micropumps[correction of micropumpus]: a report of 163 chronic pain patients.

Chronic pain in patients suffering from advanced cancer as well as unbearable chronic pain states depending on non-malignant pathology have always represented a test bench to verify results of advanced therapeutical programs as to more traditional approaches. The Authors present their experience resulting from longterm spinal infusion with peridural catheters connected to portable micropumps for the continuous administration of analgesic solutions. The availability of portable micropumps, a better understanding of spinal opioid receptors and advances in pharmacokinetics of opiate analgesics led in these years to a tremendous improvement of pain control possibilities and of the quality of life of patients.     

吗啡PCA治疗晚期重度癌痛的临床观察

目的:观察患者自控镇痛(PCA)在晚期重度癌痛治疗中的临床效果。方法:对本院确诊的21例晚期重度癌痛患者进行吗啡PCA治疗,观察视觉模拟评分(VAS)变化及并发症发生情况。结果:治疗前患者VAS分值平均为(8.1±2.3)分,治疗后30min患者VAS分值平均为(3.3±1.4)分,治疗后24h患者VAS分值平均为(2.1±0.8)分,治疗后30min及治疗后24h患者VAS分值与治疗前有统计学差异(P<0.05)。治疗过程中出现恶心呕吐3例,便秘2例,未出现嗜睡、导管堵塞脱落、呼吸抑制、皮肤瘙痒、幻觉等情况。结论:吗啡PCA对晚期重度癌痛控制效果满意,治疗并发症少。     

An Update in Options for the Treatment of Pain: A Review of New Opioid Formulations

Abstract

In the past 2 decades, there has been a significant increase in the use of opioids for the management of chronic nonmalignant pain. This increase in usage has led to concerns of misuse and abuse of opioids. Also, many of the available opioid options were previously only available as oral tablets or capsules, further limiting treatment options for health care providers. Several new opioid formulations have been developed to address and prevent the misuse and abuse of opioids via tampering in the United States. In addition, alternative delivery systems have been developed to provide physicians with more options to provide adequate pain management for those with chronic pain. This article reviews new opioid options for the treatment of pain management and requirements of the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies program.     

Avoiding Opioids and Their Harmful Side Effects in the Postoperative Patient: Exogenous Opioids,Endogenous Endorphins,Wellness, Mood,and Their Relation to Postoperative Pain

Prescribed opioids are routinely used for many postoperative patients. However, these medications have daunting adverse effects on the body''s innate pain management system - the action of the beta-endorphins. The prescribed opioids not only severely impair the function of the mu-opioid receptors, but also inhibit the release of beta-endorphin. This is unfortunate, because beta-endorphin appears to be a much more potent agonist of the mu-opioid receptor than opioids. In addition, beta-endorphin indirectly elevates dopamine, a neurotransmitter related to feelings of euphoria. Therefore, by prescribing opioids, practitioners may inadvertently prolong and increase the overall intensity of the postoperative patients'' pain as well as herald anhedonia. This article highlights the relationships between prescribed (exogenous) opioids, beta-endorphins, mu-opioid receptors, wellness, mood, and postoperative pain. The role of patient education, opioid alternatives, and additional recommendations regarding pain control in the postoperative patient are also discussed.