Are Multidimensional Pain Inventory Coping Strategy Profiles Associated with Long-Term Spinal Cord Stimulation Effectiveness?

Introduction: It is acknowledged that the way patients cope with pain may influence treatment outcome. In particular, psychological factors are deemed important when considering patients for suitability for spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Objective: The aim of the study is to observe how pre-implantation psychological characteristics impact the effectiveness of SCS for chronic pain. Methods: The analysis comprised data from 137 patients who underwent an SCS implant. Screening evaluation included a coping strategies profile (Multidimensional Pain Inventory) and psychiatric disorders (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview). Based on SCS implant outcome collected during follow-up visits, patients were divided into three groups: subjects with long-term pain relief (long-term group), subjects who failed the SCS treatment and decided to explant trial device (trial explanter group [TE]), and those who chose a permanent device (permanent explanter group [PE]). Results: Results showed that most of the patients who failed with the SCS (TE and PE groups) demonstrated a dysfunctional coping profile and showed a higher presence of psychiatric disorders, which significantly influenced the experience and perception of pain. Conclusions: The findings of this study support the value of a multidisciplinary screening. Addressing psychological issues before SCS implantation can reduce the failure rate of SCS.

Value-based healthcare in management of chronic back pain: A multidisciplinary- and lean-based approach.

Background: Chronic back pain stands as the most common musculoskeletal disorder and a primary cause of disability in people under 45 years old. Multidisciplinary consultation offers an efficient approach to chronic back pain management compared to traditional therapeutic-rehabilitative paths. This paper aims to show the benefit of a diagnostic-therapeutic multidisciplinary program pathway for patients with chronic back pain. Methods: Twenty-six patients who underwent a second-level multidisciplinary consultation with a neurosurgeon and a pain therapist at our University Hospital were retrospectively identified from April 2023 to September 2023. The second-level multidisciplinary consultation is a second step consultation after a first consultation with a single specialist doctor (neurosurgeon, orthopedic, and pain therapist) who did not get the diagnosis and/or did not solve the painful symptom after medical or surgical treatment. Clinical outcomes, patient experience, and cost-effectiveness analysis were assessed using lean healthcare tools. Results: With the introduction of second-level multidisciplinary consultation, patients were assessed by multiple physicians during a single visit, reducing the costs of individual visits, reducing the time to obtain the diagnosis, and facilitating early agreement on a diagnostic-therapeutic plan. The lean value-based healthcare approach showed an average of 45 working days lost per single patient and a total cost per single patient with chronic back pain of € 1069 for the national health system for an average Lead time of 18 months. Questionnaire analysis on service quality and utility, along with overall satisfaction, revealed excellent resolution of back pain in 53.8% of cases and partial resolution of back pain in 11.5% of cases after second-level multidisciplinary consultation. Conclusion: Our multidisciplinary approach to chronic back pain has significantly improved healthcare efficiency. This new proposed clinical model reduces waiting times and costs and improves patient experience by improving clinical outcomes in the management of chronic back pain.

Patients with Chronic Pain: Are Mindfulness Traits Protective Against Distress, Anxiety and Depression?

Objective: To investigate mindfulness traits/attitudes as protective factors against chronic pain related distress, depression and anxiety. Method: Fifty patients (25 with chronic non-oncologic pain-NOP; 25 with chronic oncologic pain-COP) were administered with the following scales: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pain Disability Index (PDI), Italian Questionnaire for Pain (QUID), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), State and Trait Anxiety Scale (STAY-y1 module), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Psychological General Well Being Index (PGWBI), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Results: MAAS value ≥ 4.38 was adopted as cut-off to compare 'high level of mindfulness' (HM) vs. 'normal level of mindfulness' (NM) attitudes. Twenty-six patients (52%) scored ≥4.38, with no different distribution between NOP and COP. HM patients scored significantly lower than NM patients on PDI 'family/home responsibilities' domain (4.5±3.2 vs. 6.4±2.8; p<.037), and on PSS (17.8±2.6 vs. 20.9±2.5; p<.0001), STAY-y1 (9.4±1.8 vs. 10.3±2.1; p<.0001), BDI-II (7.8±5.0 vs. 17.6±8.6; p<.0001) total scores. HM scored significantly higher than NM patients in all PGWBI domains. A multiple regression analysis was carried out to analyze the predictor variables of PGWB. The most complete model considered the variables MAAS, STAIy and VAS (F=42.21; p<.0001), that accounted for the 71.6% of PGWB variance. MAAS score was the only variable positively predicting for PGWB; STAIy and VAS scores predicted negatively. Conclusions: Chronic pain patients with high levels of mindfulness attitudes experienced less distress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and more physical and general wellbeing than patients with low levels of mindfulness attitudes.

Vessel-Guided Mesohepatectomy for Liver Partition and Staged Major Parenchyma-Sparing Hepatectomies with Super-Selective Portal Vein Embolization or Enhanced ALPPS to Achieve R0 Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastases at the Hepatocaval Confluence.

Background. R0 minor parenchyma-sparing hepatectomy (PSH) is feasible for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) in contact with hepatic veins (HV) at hepatocaval confluence since HV can be reconstructed, but in the case of contact with the first-order glissonean pedicle (GP), major hepatectomy is mandatory. To pursue an R0 parenchyma-sparing policy, we proposed vessel-guided mesohepatectomy for liver partition (MLP) and eventually combination with liver augmentation techniques for staged major PSH. Methods. We analyzed 15 consecutive vessel-guided MLPs for CRLM at the hepatocaval confluence. Patients had a median of 11 (range: 0-67) lesions with a median diameter of 3.5 cm (range: 0.0-8.0), bilateral in 73% of cases. Results. Grade IIIb or more complications occurred in 13%, median hospital stay was 14 (range: 6-62) days, 90-day mortality was 0%. After a median follow-up of 17.5 months, 1-year OS and RFS were 92% and 62%. In nine (64%) patients, MLP was combined with portal vein embolization (PVE) or ALPPS to perform staged R0 major PSH. Future liver remnant (FLR) volume increased from a median of 15% (range: 7-20%) up to 41% (range: 37-69%). Super-selective PVE was performed in three (33%) patients and enhanced ALPPS (e-ALPPS) in six (66%). In two e-ALPPS an intermediate stage of deportalized liver PSH was necessary to achieve adequate FLR volume. Conclusions. Vessel-guided MLP may transform the liver in a paired organ. In selected cases of multiple bilobar CRLM, to guarantee oncological radicality (R0), major PSH is feasible combining advanced surgical parenchyma sparing with liver augmentation techniques when FLR volume is insufficient.

Comparative structural analysis of polyurethane and silicone catheters of totally implantable venous access devices by micro-computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate microstructural alterations of explanted long-term central venous catheters of totally implantable venous access devices, using micro-computed tomography. METHODS: A total of 16 catheters (9 made of silicone and 7 made of polyurethane), all non-fractured, have been analyzed in this study. Eight catheters were implanted for an average duration of 994 days (min-max: 98-2731 days), while the remaining eight catheters (four for each material, forming the SIref and PUref control groups) were analyzed before implant and used as a reference. X-ray micro-computed tomography was used to reconstruct the three-dimensional geometry of selected segments of each catheter (ca. 10 cm per sample). RESULTS: Morphometric analysis of the catheters revealed increases wall thickness and section area in the polyurethane group as compared with the reference central venous catheters of the same materials (wall thickness: 403 ± 12 µm in the polyurethane (PU) group vs 382 ± 4 µm in PUref, p = 0.014; wall cross-section area: 2.04 ± 0.09 mm2 in PU vs 1.91 ± 0.03 mm2 in PUref, p = 0.04), whereas implanted silicone catheters showed a larger luminal cross section as compared with their controls (lumen cross-section area = 0.851 ± 0.020 mm2 in silicone (SI) group vs 0.811 ± 0.007 mm2 in SIref, p = 0.007). All analyzed samples in this study presented some type of alteration in the catheter walls, namely, hyperdense spots (below 0.1 mm size), air gaps/bubbles and displacements of inner and outer axes causing heterogeneous wall thickness. The incidence of air gaps showed no difference with respect to both material type and duration of implant, whereas the SI group revealed more hyperdense spots as compared to all other groups. CONCLUSION: Morphological change and local structural alteration can occur in both silicone and polyurethane catheters. This evidence suggests the need for further studies connecting those morphological changes with modification of mechanical robustness, which ultimately can play a role for patient safety.

Comparison of methods for the microbiological diagnosis of totally implantable venous access port-related infections.

Introduction. Totally implanted venous access ports (TIVAPs) are widely used in patients receiving long-term chemotherapy but may lead to serious complications such as catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). Diagnosis of CRBSI requires catheter culture, but there is no consensus on microbiological culture methods to be adopted.Aim. To compare three different procedures to recover bacterial cells from colonized catheters and to determine which section of the TIVAP (i.e. tip, septum, reservoir) is the probable source of infection. To investigate the correlation between blood culture results and TIVAP culture in order to get further evidence about the utility of differential time to positivity (DTP) as a diagnostic tool before TIVAP removal.Hypothesis/Gap statement. Comparisons of different diagnostic procedures for catheter culture have been rarely reported for TIVAPs. We hypothesized that the optimization of methods to recover micro-organisms from different parts of TIVAPs may help to decrease the number of false-negative results in the diagnosis of TIVAP-related bloodstream infections.Methodology. A total of 53 TIVAPs removed because of suspected infection (n=36) or end of use (n=17) were evaluated. The reservoir, the septum and the catheter tip were separated and subjected to different treatments for the recovery of adherent micro-organisms: (a) flushing of the catheter lumen, (b) sonication and flushing, (c) treatment with dithiothreitol and flushing. The three methods were also evaluated in an in vitro catheter infection model with Staphylococcus epidermidis. Culture results were compared to those obtained from paired blood cultures drawn from TIVAP and peripheral vein and to the relative DTP.Results. The results obtained demonstrated that vigorous flushing/vortexing of the catheter lumen/septum, allows the recovery of a number of micro-organisms comparable to that of more complex procedures such as sonication or chemical treatment. Among 24 positive TIVAP-cultures, nine were tip-culture negative, whereas the corresponding reservoirs and septa were culture positive. A good correlation was observed between DTP and TIVAP cultures (P<0.001).Conclusions. The results support the evidence that sending the port reservoir in addition to the catheter tip to the microbiology laboratory may increase the sensitivity and the accuracy of CRBSI diagnosis. Moreover, when a TIVAP-related infection is suspected, DTP is a useful diagnostic tool to decide between device removal or a more conservative approach.

Activity-based costing analysis of the analgesic treatments used in postoperative pain management in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this analysis is to evaluate the costs of 72-hour postoperative pain treatment in patients undergoing major abdominal, orthopedic and thoracic procedures in nine different Italian hospitals, defined as the cumulative cost of drugs, consumable materials and time required for anesthesiologists, surgeons and nurses to administer each analgesic technique. METHODS: Nine Italian hospitals have been involved in this study through the administration of a questionnaire aimed to acquire information about the Italian clinical practice in terms of analgesia. This study uses activity-based costing (ABC) analysis to identify, measure and give value to the resources required to provide the therapeutic treatment used in Italy to manage the postoperative pain patients face after surgery. A deterministic sensitivity analysis (DSA) has been performed to identify the cost determinants mainly affecting the final cost of each treatment analyzed. Costs have been reclassified according to three surgical macro-areas (abdominal, orthopedic and thoracic) with the aim to recognize the cost associated not only to the analgesic technique adopted but also to the type of surgery the patient faced before undergoing the analgesic pathway. RESULTS: Fifteen different analgesic techniques have been identified for the treatment of moderate to severe pain in patients who underwent a major abdominal, orthopedic or thoracic surgery. The cheapest treatment actually employed is the oral administration "around the clock" (€ 8.23), whilst the most expensive is continuous peripheral nerve block (€ 223.46). The intravenous patient-controlled analgesia costs € 277.63. In terms of resources absorbed, the non-continuous administration via bolus is the gold standard in terms of cost-related to the drugs used (€ 1.28), and when administered pro re nata it also absorbs the lowest amount of consumables (€0.58€) compared to all other therapies requiring a delivery device. The oral analgesic administration pro re nata is associated to the lowest cost in terms of health professionals involved (€ 6.25), whilst intravenous PCA is the most expensive one (€ 245.66), requiring a massive monitoring on the part of physicians and nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis successfully collected information about costs of 72-hour postoperative pain treatment in patients undergoing major abdominal, orthopedic and thoracic procedures in all the nine different Italian hospitals. The interview showed high heterogeneity in the treatment of moderate to severe pain after major abdominal, orthopedic and thoracic surgeries among responding anesthesiologists, with 15 different analgesic modalities reported. The majority of the analgesic techniques considered in the analysis is not recommended by any guideline and their application in real life can be one of the reasons for the high incidence of uncontrolled pain, which is still reported in the postoperative period. Health care costs have become more and more important, although the choice of the best analgesic treatment should be a compromise between efficacy and economic considerations.

Minor-but-Complex Liver Resection: An Alternative to Major Resections for Colorectal Liver Metastases Involving the Hepato-Caval Confluence.

Major hepatectomy (MH) is often considered the only possible approach for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) at the hepato-caval confluence (CC), but it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. With the aim to reduce MH, we developed the "minor-but-complex" (MbC) technique, which consists in the resection of less than 3 adjacent liver segments with exposure of the CC and preservation of hepatic outflow until spontaneous maturation of peripheral intrahepatic shunts between main hepatic veins. We have evaluated applicability and outcome of MbC resections for the treatment of CRLM involving the CC. In this retrospective cohort study, all consecutive liver resections (LR) performed for CRLM located in segments 1, 7, 8, or 4a were classified as MINOR - removal of <3 adjacent segments; MbC - removal of <3 adjacent segments with CC exposure; and MH - removal of ≥ 3 adjacent segments. The rate of avoided MH was obtained by the difference between the rate of potentially MH (PMH) plus potentially inoperable cases and the rate of the MH performed. Taking into account that postoperative mortality is mainly related to the amount of resected liver, MbC was compared with minor resections for safety, complexity, and outcome. Of the 59 LR analyzed, 29 (49.1%) were deemed PMH and 4 (6.8%) potentially inoperable. Eventually, MH was performed only in 8 (13.5%) with a decrease rate of 42.4%. Minor LR was performed in 23 (39.0%) and MbC LR in 28 (47.5%) patients. Among MbC cases, 32.1% had previous liver treatments, 39.3% required vascular reconstruction (no reconstructed vessel thrombosis occurred before maturation of peripheral intrahepatic shunts between main hepatic veins), and 7.1% had grade IIIb-IV complications, their median hospital stay was 9 days and 90-day mortality was 0%. After a median follow-up of 22.2 months, oncological results were comparable with those of minor resections. MbC hepatectomy lowers the need for MH and allows for the resection of potentially inoperable patients without negative impact on safety and survival.