The relationship between interstitial cystitis and endometriosis in patients with chronic pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the relationship between interstitial cystitis (IC), endometriosis (endo), and chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in individuals in whom nongynecological and nonurological problems had been previously ruled out. METHODS: A prospective study of 162 consecutive women with a complaint of chronic pelvic pain seen in the clinic was performed between August 2002 and December 2005. These patients underwent a workup to exclude other causes of pelvic pain, had PUF (Pain Urgency and Frequency) questionnaires filled out, and underwent a laparoscopy and a cystoscopy with hydrodistention. Pain levels were determined, and treatment was reviewed and enumerated. Results were obtained and quantified. RESULTS: In this study, 123 (76%) patients were diagnosed with active endometriosis, 133 (82%) were diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, and 107 (66%) had both disease entities simultaneously. Thirteen (8%) patients were diagnosed with pathologies unrelated to endometriosis and interstitial cystitis. Pain levels were seen to decrease at 6 months in all groups of patients with the exception of those patients with endometriosis only. CONCLUSION: CPP is a difficult, taxing, and frustrating concern for many women in the United States. These individuals have traditionally been difficult to treat. A large number of women with CPP in our patient population have been shown to have endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, or both. Therefore, a workup for premenopausal individuals with CPP involves obtaining a history that keys into possible nongynecologic causes of pain, a complete accounting of urinary problems, and a thorough history of gynecological problems. A physical examination with a comprehensive history should be performed, and the investigation may include the possibility of a simultaneous laparoscopy and cystoscopy if warranted. These procedures can serve as both a means for diagnosis and treatment of these problems when encountered.     

A Complication of Stellate Ganglion Block?

Abstract: Stellate ganglion block is commonly used to treat the sympathetically maintained pain which may occur in one‐third of patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1. A complication that followed a single block and presented a diagnostic dilemma for the ophthalmologist is reported.     

A literature review exploring how healthcare professionals contribute to the assessment and control of postoperative pain in older people

Little research has examined the care older people receive in the acute surgical setting. Although pain assessment and management are judged to be a priority in nursing, often pain, in older people, is undermanaged for a variety of reasons. Factors such as stoicism, communication and ageism can shape both the patients’ and nurses’ attitude towards the perception of pain which subsequently affects pain management. Through a review of the literature, this paper aims to: (i) identify how healthcare professionals contribute to the assessment and control of postoperative pain in older people and (ii) explore potential barriers to achieving more advantageous pain control in this group. It is suggested that to improve pain management there is a need to individualize pain assessment for older people and to assist clinicians with enhancing their education and decision‐making abilities in this field. This may best be achieved by supporting a programme of change to develop the skills of staff and encouraging learning through reflective practice. There is however a need for further research in this area.     

自控止痛泵在疼痛治疗中的应用

介绍了自控止痛泵在临床各种类型疼痛病人治疗中的应用 ,研究了最佳给药途径、注药模式及常见的不良反应 ,为临床正确用药提供了帮助。     

腹腔镜胆囊切除术不同压力CO2气腹对气腹存留时限及肩部疼痛的影响

目的 探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术(laparoscopic cholecystectomy,LC)不同压力CO2气腹对气腹存留时限及肩部疼痛的影响,探讨LC术后气腹存留时限的影响因素及肩部疼痛的原因.方法 2002年4～10月连续观察69例LC,随机分为A、B、C 3组,每组23例.气腹压力设定A组10mm Hg,B组12mm Hg,C组14mm Hg.对69例LC术后进行连续胸部X线平片观察膈下游离气体,测量术后24h两侧膈下游离气体的长、高并计算残气量.采用视觉模拟评分(vision analogue score,VAS)观察3组术后1、3、6、12、24、48、72、96、120h肩部疼痛程度.结果 LC后气腹存留时限为(1.8±1.1)d,男女组气腹存留时限分别为(1.8±1.1)d和(1.7±1.0)d,2组比较无显著意义(H=0.013,P=0.911).3组术后24h膈下残气量及术后气腹存留时限差异无显著性(P＞0.05).逐步回归分析示lg(气腹存留时限)与术后24h膈下残气量呈正相关(r=0.616,P=0.006),与气腹时间呈负相关(r=-0.228,P=0.014),与年龄、体重、身高、手术时间及所用气体量无相关性.术后26例出现肩部疼痛,随着A、B、C 3组气腹压力的增高,发生肩部疼痛患者的VAS评分明显增高(F=9.635, P=0.000),术后24h肩部疼痛VAS评分与术后24 h右侧膈下残气量呈正相关(r=0.333,P=0.005),与气腹存留时限呈正相关(r=0.296,P=0.014).结论 LC术毕尽量将腹腔内CO2气体排净可缩短术后残气吸收时间.不同压力CO2气腹对LC术后残余的CO2气体量及气腹存留时限无明显影响.LC后肩部疼痛程度随气腹压增高有明显加重趋势,人工气腹引起膈肌的张力可能是造成肩部疼痛的重要原因.     

Do patients receive adequate pain control after discharge from the ED?

Studies on the effectiveness of pain management have uniformly concluded that health care providers underestimate or undertreat pain. In the emergency department (ED) in which this study was conducted, physicians receive formal didactic and bedside teaching on pain recognition and management in order to heighten the awareness of patient's need for pain control. The purpose of this study was to determine if this outpatient pain management of patients with acute, painful conditions is better than that reported in the medical literature. In this prospective study, 110 adult patients who had an acute, painful diagnosis were telephoned 48 hours after discharge from the ED and asked if they felt their pain at home was well controlled. Patient satisfaction with pain control was higher (91%) than that reported in the medical literature. Also, pain medication was provided more frequently by this study's ED (95%). Education on pain awareness and treatment is a way to improve pain management.     

Congenital esophageal stenosis presenting as noncardiac,esophageal chest pain

Summary A case of a 31-year-old female with congenital esophageal stenosis presenting with symptoms of chest pain caused by esophageal dysmotility is described. The involved segment in congenital esophageal stenosis has a characteristic thickening of the muscularis propria layer, as seen by EUS examination. In these patients, symptoms of dysphagia can be managed with esophageal dilation and noncardiac esophageal chest pain responds to pharmacotherapy with diltiazem.The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official policy or reflecting the views of the Army or the Department of Defense.     

丙氧氨酚与酮咯酸治疗癌痛的比较

晚期肿瘤疼痛病人３１例（男性１７例，女性１４例，年龄５０±５１４ａ），用丙氧氨酚２片，ｐｏ，ｔｉｄ，共７ｄ。相似病人３０例（男性１６例，女性１４例，年龄５１±１３ａ），用酮咯酸１０ｍｇ，ｐｏ，ｑｉｄ，共７ｄ。结果：疼痛强度（标尺法）２组均有降低；显效时间前组（丙氧氨酚）快于后组（酮咯酸）；药效维持时间后组长于前组；不良反应前组嗜睡多于后组，而胃肠道不适少于后组。