Pain physician最新文献

Background: The analysis of epidural procedure utilization has revealed several notable trends over recent years. Utilization increased significantly until 2004, then rose minimally until 2011, followed by gradual declines up to 2019 in the Medicare population. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked 19% decline in usage from 2019 to 2020. Additionally, recent studies of interventional pain management techniques showed a 28.9% reduction in use from 2019 to 2022, leading to an average annual decline of 10.9%.

Objective: The present investigation aims to provide an updated evaluation of epidural procedure usage for chronic pain management in the U.S. Medicare population.

Study design: A retrospective cohort study examining utilization patterns and variables for epidural injections in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population in the U.S. from 2000 to 2022.

Methods: Data was obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) master database, specifically using the physician/supplier procedure summary for 2000-2022. Episodes or procedure visits were defined as one per region using primary codes only, while services included all procedure levels and any add-on codes.

Results: Between 2000 and 2010, epidural episodes rose by 6.7% annually but then declined by 3% each year from 2010 to 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 19.3% reduction in procedures from 2019 to 2020, followed by a partial recovery of 5.5% in 2021, then another 10.9% drop in 2022. During 2019-2022, lumbar interlaminar and caudal procedures decreased by 26.9%, while cervical/thoracic interlaminar procedures declined by 24.2%. By 2022, transforaminal procedures surpassed interlaminar procedures, reversing the trend from 2000.

Limitations: This analysis includes data only through 2022 and is limited to the FFS Medicare population; it does not account for Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees, who made up nearly half of Medicare participants by 2022. Additionally, the study is subject to limitations inherent in retrospective claims data analysis.

Conclusion: This two-decade analysis indicates significant shifts in epidural procedure utilization, with steady increases until 2010, followed by a general decline affected by COVID-19 and other contributing factors. An approximate 24% decline in epidural procedure visits for chronic spinal pain management was noted from 2019 to 2022.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) have a negative effect on patients. A simple and practical PHN prediction model is lacking.

Objective: We aimed to investigate risk factors associated with PHN in patients with HZ and develop a predictive model.

Study design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: This study was conducted at the Department of Pain Management, China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, People's Republic of China, spanning from August 2020 through March 2022.

Methods: Clinical data of 174 patients with HZ were recorded using a case report form. The patients underwent a 3-month follow-up, which included both in-person visits and telephone follow-ups. Patients were categorized into either a PHN or non-PHN group based on the diagnosis  of PHN. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of PHN occuring in patients with HZ. Subsequently, a nomogram model was developed to estimate the likelihood of PHN. To validate the prediction model's accuracy, calibration curves, the C-index, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized.

Results: In this study, a total of 174 patients were divided into 2 groups: the PHN Group, consisting of 52 patients, and the non-PHN Group, consisting of 122 patients based on the follow-up results. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed 5 significant risk factors for PHN, including being a woman, being more than 50 years old, having prodromal phase pain, having a large rash area, and having great pain severity during the acute phase. The model's performance was excellent, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.81 and a close alignment between the calibration curve and the actual data, signifying high accuracy. The model's accuracy and net benefit were maximized when predicting a prevalence between 6% and 92%.

Limitations: Our study was conducted at a single center and had a limited sample size.

Conclusions: The incidence of PHN is influenced by factors such as being a woman, being more than 50 years old, having prodromal phase pain, having a large rash area, and having great pain severity during the acute stage. The prediction model developed in this study effectively forecasts the occurrence of PHN using these 5 risk factors, making it a valuable tool for clinical practice.

Background: Ultrasound-guided 5% dextrose (D5W) hydrodissection provides  favorable outcomes for treating peripheral entrapment neuropathies; its safety is well recognized. However, clinical evidence regarding the use of D5W hydrodissection for meralgia paresthetica (MP) is limited. Although corticosteroids are the most common injectates, the possible adverse effects are a big concern.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided D5W hydrodissection compared to corticosteroid hydrodissection in patients with MP during a 6-month follow-up period.

Study design: A prospective, randomized double-blind, controlled trial.

Setting: Outpatient clinic at a university hospital.

Methods: A total of 56 patients with MP were randomly allocated to either a D5W or steroid group in a 1:1 ratio. The patients received one session of ultrasound-guided perineural injection therapy of 10 mL D5W or a corticosteroid solution (1 mL compound betamethasone [1 mL: betamethasone sodium phosphate 5 mg and betamethasone dipropionate 2 mg] mixed with 5 mL 2% lidocaine and 4 mL 0.9% saline).The primary outcomes were Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for MP (pain and paresthesia) and global quality of life. The secondary outcomes included self-reported successful clinical response and injection adverse effects. Evaluations were conducted at pretreatment and at one, 3, 4 and 6 months posttreatment.

Results: All patients completed the study. Compared with baseline, both groups exhibited reductions in VAS scores for MP and global quality of life at all follow-up time points, with statistical differences at 3, 4, and 6 months in the D5W group (P < 0.05), as well as those at one, 3, and 4 months in the steroid group (P < 0.05). The D5W group exhibited greater improvement than the steroid group in VAS scores for MP and global quality of life at 4 and 6 months (P < 0.05), and demostrated a more successful clinical response at 6 months (P < 0.05). No adverse effects were reported in the D5W group during the study period, while 6 patients in the steroid group reported an adverse effect.

Limitations: A longer follow-up period is necessary; the exact mechanism of D5W is not clear.

Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided perineural injection therapy of D5W is more beneficial than corticosteroid injection for MP at 4 to 6 months posttreatment. Additionally, D5W displays a better safety profile than corticosteroid. Thus, we suggest D5W as a more suitable injectate for patients with MP.

Background: Because of its side effects, a morphine replacement has been searched for in the field of postoperative analgesia. Hydromorphone is a derivative of morphine with no active metabolites.

Objectives: We conducted a meta-analysis of hydromorphone and morphine to compare their clinical effects in postoperative analgesia.

Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: The methodological quality of the studies included in this meta-analysis was assessed according to the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria were used to evaluate the quality of evidence and recommendation grade for inclusion of randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome was postoperative pain score. Secondary outcomes were severe sedation, nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre for The Cochrane Collaboration).

Results: Eight randomized controlled trials comprising 833 patients were found. There was no significant difference in pain scores between the hydromorphone and morphine groups at any measured postoperative time point: 8 hours (mean difference [MD] = -0.42; 95%CI, -2.08 to 1.24; P = 0.62); 12 hours (MD = -0.19; 95%CI, -0.62 to 0.24; P = 0.39); 24 hours (MD = -0.22; 95%CI, -0.54 to 0.09; P = 0.17); 36 hours (MD = 0.01; 95%CI, -0.67 to 0.69; P = 0.98) and 48 hours (MD = -0.14; 95%CI, -1.25 to 0.96; P = 0.80). There was no significant difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting at 24 hours postoperative. The incidence of pruritus at 24 hours postoperative was lower in the hydromorphone group (relative risk = 0.24; 95%CI, 0.09 to 0.66; P = 0.005).

Limitations: The perioperative multimodal analgesia measures were varying in the included studies, such as different medication doses. The sample size was small for some outcomes and high heterogeneity was observed.

Conclusions: There was no significant statistical difference in postoperative analgesic effect between hydromorphone and morphine, as well as side effects, including severe sedation, nausea, and vomiting at 24 hours postoperative. However, the incidence of pruritus was lower in the hydromorphone group at 24 hours postoperative.

Background: Remimazolam and propofol can be used interchangeably for general anesthesia. However, no dosing recommendations exist for the intravenous bolus administration of remimazolam during general anesthesia induction in pediatric patients. Determining the appropriate dose for anesthesia induction in pediatric patients is crucial for safe and effective surgical procedures.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the median effective dose (ED50) for loss of consciousness (LOC) with remimazolam and propofol in pediatric patients and establish the dose equivalence between these anesthetics.

Study design: A prospective, randomized, single-center trial.

Setting: A tertiary pediatric hospital in China from January 2023 to July 2023.

Methods: Pediatric patients aged 3 to 15 years, undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, were included. Patients were randomized to receive either remimazolam (in doses of 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, and 0.3 mg/kg-1) or propofol (in doses of 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 mg/kg-1) via intravenous bolus. The primary measure consisted of determining the ED50 for LOC with remimazolam, and the secondary measure consisted of establishing the dose equivalence between remimazolam and propofol.

Results: The calculated ED50 for remimazolam was 0.19 mg/kg-1 (95% CI: 0.10-0.35), and that for propofol was 1.11 mg/kg-1 (95% CI: 0.53-2.15). This finding indicates that remimazolam is approximately 5.8 times more potent than propofol.

Limitations: In this study, the anesthesiologist could not be blinded to the different appearances of remimazolam and propofol, and the LOC assessment method may have introduced bias. Furthermore, the recommended dose for remimazolam induction was not tested directly within this trial, suggesting a need for further research.

Conclusions: Remimazolam demonstrates significantly higher sedative efficacy for pediatric patients than does propofol. An induction dose of 0.34 mg/kg-1 remimazolam could be recommended for general anesthesia induction, considering the safety and effectiveness of a 2 mg/kg-1 dose of propofol.

Background: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGS) is an established method for treating persistent and severe pain conditions. However, performing DRGS has significant challenges. Current DRGS systems are expensive, hindering accessibility for many patients and health care systems. Additionally, placing DRGS devices requires specialized training in epidural techniques and lead anchoring methods. Technical and financial requirements also limit the clinical applicability and availability of DRGS.

Objectives: This study evaluated the feasibility of a new method for rapidly delivering near- DRG stimulation in human cadavers. The method involves a fluoroscopy-guided transforaminal approach using a fully implantable, injectable electrode, and its associated delivery system.

Study design: A human cadaver feasibility study.

Setting: A cadaver laboratory.

Methods: In this study, 3 anesthesiologist pain physicians received training on the injectable electrode device and delivery system using spine phantom models. They then applied the device's associated implantation techniques to 2 adult male cadavers. In the first cadaver, a single injectable electrode was placed near the left L2 lumbar DRG. In the second cadaver, injectable electrodes were placed near the left L1 and L2 DRG levels, and a benchmark DRGS device was installed at the left L1 level using fluoroscopic guidance. A careful anatomical dissection was then performed for each implanted device.

Results: The stimulating contacts of the injectable electrodes were accurately positioned within one mm of the DRG at the lumbar L1 and L2 levels in both cadavers. The distances of both the injectable lead and benchmark DRGS device at the L1 level were measured as one mm from the posterior aspect of the DRG.

Limitations: The findings of this study are based on anatomical examinations of a limited number of human cadavers and may not fully represent living human anatomy.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this feasibility cadaver study is the first of its kind to examine the accuracy and efficiency of a fluoroscopy-guided transforaminal approach to place injectable electrodes near the DRG. These promising results suggest that this method could be a viable alternative to existing DRGS techniques, warranting further investigation into its clinical potential.