Challenges in accessing multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities in Canada

PURPOSE: The objective of this survey was to examine the services offered by multidisciplinary pain treatment facilities (MPTFs) across Canada and to compare access to care at these MPTFs. METHODS: A MPTF was defined as a clinic that advertised specialized multidisciplinary services for the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic pain, having a minimum of three different health care disciplines (including at least one medical speciality) available and integrated within the facility. The search method included approaching all hospital and rehabilitation centre administrators in Canada, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or similar body in each province. Designated investigators were responsible for confirming and supplementing MPTFs from the preliminary list for each province. Administrative leads at each eligible MPTF were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire regarding their MPTF infrastructure, clinical, research, teaching and administrative activities. RESULTS: Completed survey forms were received from 102 MPTFs (response rate 85%) with 80% concentrated in major cities, and none in Prince Edward Island and the Territories. The MPTFs offer a wide variety of treatments including non-pharmacological modalities such as interventional, physical and psychological therapy. The median wait time for a first appointment in public MPTFs is six months, which is approximately 12 times longer than non-public MPTFs. Eighteen pain fellowship programs exist in Canadian MPTFs and 64% engage in some form of research activities CONCLUSION: Canadian MPTFs are unable to meet clinical demands of patients suffering from chronic pain, both in terms of regional accessibility and reasonable wait time for patients' first appointment.     

Acetylcholinesterase Adaptation to Voluntary Wheel Running is Proportional to the Volume of Activity in Fast, but not Slow, Rat Hindlimb Muscles

Chronic enhancement of neuromuscular activity by forced exercise training programmes results in selective adaptation of the G₄ acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular form in hindlimb fast muscles of the rat, with only minor and non-selective AChE changes in the soleus. In order to shed further light on the physiological significance of this G₄ adaptation to training, we turned to a voluntary exercise model. The impact of 5 days and 4 weeks of voluntary wheel cage running on AChE molecular forms was examined in four hindlimb fast muscles and the slow-twitch soleus from two rat strains. Inbred Fisher and Sprague– Dawley rats, placed in live-in wheel cages, exercised spontaneously for distances which progressively increased up to an average of ∼3 and 18 km/day, respectively, by the end of week 4. Fast muscles responded to this voluntary activity by massive G₄ increases (up to 420%) with almost no changes in A₁₂, so that by week 4 the tetramer became the main AChE component of these muscles. The additional G₄ was composed primarily of amphiphilic molecules, suggesting a membrane-bound state. The G₄ content of fast muscles was highly correlated with the distance covered by the rats during the 5 days before they were killed ( r = 0.850-0.879, P < 0.001 in three muscles). The soleus muscle, in turn, responded to wheel cage activity by a marked selective reduction of its asymmetric forms—up to 45% for A₁₂. This A₁₂ decline, already maximal by day 5 of wheel cage running, showed no relationship with the distance covered. The present results constitute strong new evidence suggesting that the role of AChE in neuromuscular transmission is not limited solely to the rapid inactivation of just-released acetylcholine.     

A reusable, custom-made warming blanket prevents core hypothermia during major neonatal surgery

PURPOSE: To introduce a reusable model of neonatal forced air warming blanket for intraoperative use during major noncardiac neonatal surgery and to determine clinical efficacy of this reusable blanket compared with the commonly used disposable blankets. METHODS: Delivered air temperature and calorie uptake of standard thermal bodies within the reusable blankets, Bair Hugger(R) blanket model 530 and model 555 were studied. Also, an efficacy study was conducted in 90 neonatal patients scheduled for major noncardiac surgery comparing the reusable blanket, the Bair Hugger(R) blanket model 530 and passive heat conservation as a control. The covered reusable blanket was used as a rescue procedure if the core temperature was < 35.5 degrees C. RESULTS: Delivered air temperature and heat transfer from the covered reusable blanket did not differ significantly from those of the Bair Hugger(R) blanket model 530 and model 555 (despite 0.75 degrees C-1.2 degrees C of heat trapped under the sheet and 1.3 Kcal less energy transfer). Temperatures measured underneath patients (correlated to poorly perfused areas) were highest using the Bair Hugger(R) blanket model 555. The reusable blanket was efficacious in preventing intraoperative core hypothermia and not different from the Bair Hugger(R) blanket model 530. About 1/3 of the patients in the control group had presented a core temperature < 35.5 degrees C but were successfully rescued using the reusable blanket. No adverse events were associated with any of these warming methods. CONCLUSION: This study shows the clinical efficacy of our reusable blanket for the prevention of core hypothermia during major neonatal surgery, which is not different from commonly used disposable blankets.     

Alternative Treatments for Asthma: Assessing the Need

Alternative treatments such as troleandomycin methotrexate, gold, and intravenous gamma globulin are sometimes considered for severe asthmatics to minimize the need for systemic corticosteroids and reduce adverse effects. These alternative therapies may also be associated with significant toxicity and expense. The ability to reduce corticosteroid use and the need for alternative treatment interventions in 125 pediatric patients at our institution were reviewed. Because corticosteroid requirements were reduced significantly, only 23 of 125 children evaluated were considered for treatment alternatives with only 10 receiving such therapy. This study emphasizes the importance of a thorough and comprehensive review of corticosteroid requirements and usage prior to initiating alternative approaches to treatment in moderate to severe asthmatics as well as in patients thought to be “steroid-dependent.”     

Diagnostic criteria in clinical evaluation of multiple sclerosis: role of magnetic resonance imaging]

The objective of this article is to summarize the diagnostic criteria recommended by the International Panel on the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2001. The recommendations of another working group, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Consensus Meeting, which met in Vancouver in 2001, concerning the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis are also presented in an effort to standardize the protocols for magnetic resonance imaging of these patients.     

Smooth muscle of rabbit isolated aorta contains the NK-2 tachykinin receptor

Summary Neurokinin A, neurokinin B and substance P caused concentration-related contractions of rabbit isolated aorta with pD₂ values of 8.1, 6.9 and 6.0, respectively. [D-Pro², D-Trp^7,9]-substance P, a competitive tachykinin antagonist, had pA₂ values of 5.3 against neurokinin A, 5.1 against neurokinin B and 5.2 against substance P indicating that tachykinin receptors mediated responses to the agonists. [pGIu⁵,MePhe⁸,-McGly⁹]-substance P 5–11 (DiMe-C7), senktide and septide did not contract the aorta. It is concluded that of the known tachykinin receptors smooth muscle of the rabbit isolated aorta contains only the NK-2 type. Send offprint requests to J. W. Constantine at the above address     

Efficacy and Costs of Patient-controlled Analgesia versus Regularly Administered Intramuscular Opioid Therapy

Background: Many studies have shown in the efficacy of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). However, it is not clear whether PCA has clinical or economic benefits in addition to efficient analgesia. The current study was designed to evaluate these issues by comparing PCA with regularly administered intramuscular injections of opioids after hysterectomy.

Methods: This prospective study included 126 patients who underwent abdominal hysterectomy and were randomly assigned to receive PCA or regularly timed intramuscular injections of morphine during a period of 48 h. Doses were adjusted to provide satisfactory analgesia in both treatment groups. Pain at rest and with movement, functional recovery, drug side effects, and patient satisfactory were measured using rating scales and questionnaires. The costs of PCA and intramuscular therapy were calculated based on personnel time and drug and material requirements.

Results: Comparable analgesia was observed with the two treatment methods, with no significant differences in the incidence of side effects or patient satisfaction. The medication dosage had to be adjusted significantly more frequently in the intramuscular group than in the PCA patients. The PCA did not favor a faster recuperation time compared with intramuscular therapy in terms of times of ambulation, resumption of liquid and solid diet, passage of bowel gas, or hospital discharge. The results of the economic evaluation, which used a cost-minimization model and sensitivity analyses, showed that PCA was more costly than regular intramuscular injections despite the fact that no costs for the pump were included in the analyses. Cost differences in nursing time favoring PCA were offset by drug and material costs associated with this type of treatment.