Parasternal Intercostal Muscle Thickness Fraction (PICTF%): Ultrasound a New Tool for Weaning Prediction?

How to cite this article: Bhattacharya D, Esquinas AM, Mandal M. Parasternal Intercostal Muscle Thickness Fraction (PICTF%): Ultrasound a New Tool for Weaning Prediction? Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(4):404.

Mindfulness influences the psycho-social dimension of chronic pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial in Indian context.

Background and Aims: In India, the awareness about the psycho-social dimension of chronic pain is minimal among physicians and patients. The research with community-based group therapies (like mindfulness) to address the psycho-social aspects in chronic pain patients remains limited. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to see the effects of mindfulness on pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, chronic pain acceptance, perceived stress, well-being, and mindfulness characteristics. Materials and Methods: In this two-site, parallel group, clinical trial, 170 patients attending pain outdoors of two government hospitals in West Bengal, India, were randomized to attend five weekly in-person mindfulness sessions (cases) or usual care sessions (controls) within the hospital premises. Pre-program and post-program data were collected and analyzed using statistical methods like repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In participants of the mindfulness group, significant changes post session were noted in pain intensity [F(1,326) = 15.0122; P = 0.0001291], pain acceptance [F(1,326) = 4.5311; P = 0.03403], and perceived stress score [F(1,326) = 13.2788; P = 0.0003122] compared to pre-session. The changes in pain catastrophizing, World Health Organization well-being and Freiburg mindfulness inventory scores were non-specific. Conclusion: Mindfulness had a positive influence on pain intensity, pain acceptance, and perceived stress of Indian chronic pain patients. The effects on pain catastrophizing, mindfulness characteristics, and well-being (non-specific) were also encouraging. Further studies will be required to substantiate these results.

Is the mNutric Score, the Only Independent Risk Factor for Abdominal Muscle Thickness Influencing Weaning?

How to cite this article: Goswami A, Bhattacharya D, Mandal M, Esquinas AM. Is the mNutric Score, the Only Independent Risk Factor for Abdominal Muscle Thickness Influencing Weaning? Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(9):686-687.

Non-invasive Ventilation Delivered by Helmet vs Face Mask in Patients with COVID-19 Infection: Additional Measures to Reap Further Benefits.

How to cite this article: Mandal M, Bhattacharya D, Esquinas AM. Non-invasive Ventilation Delivered by Helmet vs Face Mask in Patients with COVID-19 Infection: Additional Measures to Reap Further Benefits. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(10):1159-1160.

Indian Society for Study of Pain, Cancer Pain Special Interest Group Guidelines, for the Diagnosis and Assessment of Cancer Pain.

The Indian Society for Study of Pain (ISSP), Cancer Pain Special Interest Group (SIG) guidelines, for the diagnosis and assessment of cancer pain in adults provide a structured, step-wise approach which will help to improve the management of cancer pain and to provide the patients with a minimally acceptable quality of life. The guidelines have been developed based on the available literature and evidence, to suit the needs of patient population and situations in India. A questionnaire based on the key elements of each sub draft addressing certain inconclusive areas where evidence was lacking, was made available on the ISSP website and circulated by E-mail to all the ISSP and Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) members. We recommend that a comprehensive pain assessment of all the patients should be conducted before initiating treatment. The patients should be educated about all the available pain control interventions. For assessing cancer pain, unidimensional tools such as Numeric Rating Scale, Visual Analog Scale, and Visual Rating Scale should always be used routinely. Patients with cancer pain should routinely be screened for distress and other psychological disorders, using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The most reliable assessment of pain is patients' self-reporting.