Preoperative multidisciplinary team decisions for high-risk patients scheduled for noncardiac surgery-a retrospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Preoperative multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are recommended for patients at high risk for perioperative complications and mortality, although the underlying evidence is scarce. We aimed to investigate the effect of MDT decisions on patient management and patient outcome. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study including all noncardiac surgical patients selected for discussion at preoperative MDT meetings from January 2017 to December 2019 (N = 120). We abstracted preoperative data, MDT decisions, and patient outcomes from the electronic health records for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients registered for an MDT meeting, 43% did not undergo their initially planned surgery. Only 27% of patients received perioperative management as planned before the MDT meeting. Most surgery cancellations were the MDT's decision (22%) or the patient's decision before or after the MDT discussion (10%). Postoperative complications occurred in 28% of operated patients, and postoperative mortality was 4% at 30 days and 10% at three months, most of which was attributable to postoperative complications. Non-operated patients had a 7% mortality rate at 30 days and 9% at three months. Alterations of perioperative management following MDT discussion were associated with fewer cases of extended length of hospital stay (> ten days). CONCLUSION: This study shows that preoperative MDT meetings for high-risk noncardiac surgical patients altered the management of most patients. Management alterations were associated with fewer hospital admissions of long duration. These results should be interpreted with appropriate caution given the methodological limitations inherent to this small study.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Les réunions préopératoires d'une équipe multidisciplinaire (EMD) sont recommandées pour les patients présentant un risque élevé de complications périopératoires et mortalité, bien que les données probantes sous-jacentes soient rares. Notre objectif était d'étudier l'effet des décisions d'une EMD sur la prise en charge et les issues des patients. MéTHODE: Nous avons mené une étude de cohorte rétrospective monocentrique incluant tous les patients chirurgicaux non cardiaques retenus pour discussion lors des réunions préopératoires de l'EMD de janvier 2017 à décembre 2019 (N = 120). Pour notre analyse, nous avons extrait les données préopératoires, les décisions de l'EMD et les issues des patients des dossiers de santé électroniques. RéSULTATS: Sur les 120 patients inscrits pour discussion dans une réunion de l'EMD, 43 % n'ont pas subi la chirurgie initialement prévue. Seulement 27 % des patients ont bénéficié de la prise en charge périopératoire prévue avant la réunion de l'EMD. La plupart des annulations de chirurgie étaient dues à la décision de l'EMD (22 %) ou à la décision du patient avant ou après la discussion de l'EMD (10 %). Des complications postopératoires sont survenues chez 28 % des patients opérés, et la mortalité postopératoire était de 4 % à 30 jours et de 10 % à trois mois, en majorité attribuable à des complications postopératoires. Les patients non opérés avaient un taux de mortalité de 7 % à 30 jours et de 9 % à trois mois. Les modifications de prise en charge périopératoire à la suite des discussions de l'EMD ont été associées à une réduction des cas de prolongation du séjour à l'hôpital (> dix jours). CONCLUSION: Cette étude montre que les réunions préopératoires de l'EMD pour les patients chirurgicaux non cardiaques à haut risque ont modifié la prise en charge de la plupart des patients. Les modifications apportées à la prise en charge ont été associées à une diminution du nombre d'admissions à l'hôpital pour une longue durée. Ces résultats doivent toutefois être interprétés avec prudence compte tenu des limites méthodologiques inhérentes à cette petite étude.

A Prospective Study of Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation for Non-Operated Discogenic Low Back Pain.

INTRODUCTION: Disruptions of lumbar intervertebral discs may lead to severe discogenic low back pain (LBP). Severe pain has a deleterious effect on physical function and quality of life. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a robust treatment for many neuropathic pain conditions. New innovations may be well-suited to treat neuropathic chronic LBP, including discogenic pain. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the effect of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation for a well-selected group of patients with discogenic LBP with no history of previous back surgeries. METHODS: Twenty subjects with confirmed discogenic LBP and no prior history of back surgery underwent trials of DRG stimulation and, if successful with at least 50% pain reduction, were permanently implanted. Subjects rated their pain, disability, quality of life, and mood at baseline, and 14 subjects were followed through 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: Treatment with DRG stimulation reduced LBP ratings (68.3% reduction), from mean 7.20 ± 1.3 at baseline to 2.29 ± 2.1 after 12 months (p = < 0.001). Oswestry ratings of disability significantly decreased (p = < 0.001) from 42.09 ± 12.9 at baseline to 21.54 ± 16.4 after six months of treatment and to 20.1 ± 16.6 after 12 months. The average quality of life EQ-5D index score at baseline was 0.61 ± 0.12 and 0.84 ± 0.13 after 12 months. DISCUSSION: DRG stimulation treatment for discogenic LBP improved the level of pain, function, and quality of life. Further research is necessary into efficacy of DRG stimulation in patients with chronic discogenic LBP and to determine the place of SCS in the treatment algorithm.

Preperitoneal Bupivacaine Infiltration Reduces Postoperative Opioid Consumption, Acute Pain, and Chronic Postsurgical Pain After Bariatric Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: A multimodal pain treatment including local anesthetics is advised for perioperative analgesia in bariatric surgery. Due to obesity, bariatric surgery patients are at risk of respiratory complications. Opioid consumption is an important risk factor for hypoventilation. Furthermore, acute postoperative pain is an important risk factor for chronic postsurgical pain. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether preperitoneal anesthesia with bupivacaine would reduce pain and opioid consumption after bariatric surgery. METHODS: One hundred adults undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery were randomized to receive either preperitoneal bupivacaine 0.5% or normal saline before incision. Postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative pain, and postoperative recovery parameters were assessed for the first 24 h after surgery. One year after surgery, chronic postsurgical pain and influence of pain on daily living were evaluated. RESULTS: Postoperative opioid consumption during the first hour after surgery was 2.8 ± 3.0 mg in the bupivacaine group, whereas in the control group, it was 4.4 ± 3.4 mg (p = 0.01). Pain scores were significantly reduced in this first hour at rest and at 6 h during mobilization on the ward. One year after surgery, the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain was 13% in the bupivacaine group versus 40% in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that preperitoneal local anesthesia with bupivacaine results in a reduction in opioid consumption and postoperative pain and seems to lower the incidence rate of chronic postsurgical pain after laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

No Transfer of Pressure to Adjacent Discs During Human Low-Pressure Controlled Discography: A Prospective Clinical Study.

Background: A substantial part of low back pain (LBP) originates from degeneration of the intervertebral disc. To confirm the diagnosis of discogenic pain, provocation discography seems the best available tool. However, provocation discography is also considered to be a controversial and subjective test because the patient's personal pain response is the most crucial for the result of the test. Recently, an in vivo porcine study and a study in nine human subjects showed passing of pressure to the adjacent discs during discography. This could mean that the concordant pain the patient describes originates from an adjacent disc. The object of this study is to assess if during human lumbar pressure-controlled provocation discography there is pressure transmission to adjacent discs. Methods: Consecutive patients between age 18 and 65 years with intractable low back pain and at least 50% preserved height of the suspected painful disc were included. Exclusion criteria were prior lumbar surgery of the suspected level, use of anticoagulants, pregnancy, local infection, and iodine allergy. An arterial blood pressure monitoring system simultaneously assessed the pressure in the adjacent discs while low-speed flow, pressure-controlled discography was performed. Results: In 50 patients with a positive discography, the average intradiscal peak pressure was 15.1 psi (SD = 11.1). In 48 procedures, no pressure rise in the adjacent discs was found. A small pressure rise (1.1 psi) in the adjacent disc during discography was recorded in two patients. Conclusions: Pressure rise in adjacent discs does not seem to occur during low-speed flow pressure-controlled lumbar provocation discography. False-positive pain reactions caused by potentially painful adjacent discs are therefore unlikely during pressure-controlled discography.

Methadone versus Fentanyl in Patients with Radiation-Induced Nociceptive Pain with Head and Neck Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain is still a burden for many patients with cancer. A recent trial showed the superiority of methadone over fentanyl in neuropathic pain, and we expect that this finding could influence the number of patients treated with methadone. METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled noninferiority trial in patients with nociceptive pain. Eighty-two strong-opioid-naïve patients with head and neck cancer with substantial pain (pain numeric rating scale [NRS] score ≥ 4) due to radiation therapy were included. Forty-two patients were treated with methadone, and 40 with fentanyl. Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, and 5 weeks. The primary outcomes were reduction in average pain and clinical success (50% pain decrease). We set the predefined noninferiority margin at 1 on the NRS and 10% clinical success. Secondary outcomes were pain interference, global perceived effect (GPE), side effects, and opioid escalation index. RESULTS: Noninferiority was shown for decrease in NRS for maximum and mean pain scores at 1 and 3 weeks. Noninferiority was shown for clinical success at 1 week only. The opioid escalation index was lower in the methadone group at 3 and 5 weeks as compared to fentanyl (1.44 vs. 1.99, P = 0.004; and 1.50 vs. 2.32, P = 0.013). The pain interference in the methadone group was significantly decreased at 3 weeks only. GPE and side effects were not different. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show noninferiority of methadone compared to fentanyl at 1 and 3 weeks in the treatment of radiation-induced nociceptive pain in patients with head and neck cancer.

Patient expectations for management of chronic non-cancer pain: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a major economic and social health problem. Up to 79% of chronic pain patients are unsatisfied with their pain management. Meeting patients' expectations is likely to produce greater satisfaction with care. The challenge is to explore patients' genuine expectations and needs. However, the term expectation encompasses several concepts and may concern different aspects of health-care provision. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to systematically collect information on types and subject of patients' expectations for chronic pain management. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched for quantitative and qualitative studies. Because of the multidimensional character of the term "expectations," the search included subject headings and free text words related to the concept of expectations. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: A framework for understanding patients' expectations was used to map types of expectations within structure, process or outcome of health care. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-three research papers met the inclusion criteria: 18 quantitative and five qualitative. This review found that assessment of patients' expectations for treatment is mostly limited to outcome expectations (all 18 quantitative papers and four qualitative papers). Patients generally have high expectations regarding pain reduction after treatment, but expectations were higher when expressed as an ideal expectation (81-93% relief) than as a predicted expectation (44-64%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: For health-care providers, for pain management and for pain research purposes, the awareness that patients express different types of expectations is important. For shared decision making in clinical practice, it is important that predicted expectations of the patient are known to the treating physician and discussed. Structure and process expectations are under-represented in our findings. However, exploring and meeting patients' expectations regarding structure, process and outcome aspects of pain management may increase patient satisfaction.

Prolonged QT interval by methadone: relevance for daily practice? A prospective study in patients with cancer and noncancer pain.

INTRODUCTION: Increased methadone use in patients with pain has raised concerns that the effect of methadone on the QT interval duration and the potential risk of torsades de pointes (TdP) has been underestimated. Most studies on prolonged QT intervals by methadone are performed in maintenance patients; however, doses of methadone in pain treatment are much lower. Hardly any studies have prospectively addressed QT interval prolongation by methadone in patients with pain, and this study aims to address this literature gap. METHODS: In a period of 3 years, while 130 patients used methadone as pain treatment at a stable dose for at least 1 week, 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were performed. Corrected QT times, demographic features, methadone dose, duration of therapy, and relevant comedication were documented. RESULTS: The findings included 50 percent of 130 patients, with a mean methadone dose of 18.2 mg/d, were potentially at risk for TdP. Beyond this, 5 percent were at definite risk for TdP. No correlations were found between QTc and gender, age, serum potassium or magnesium levels, methadone dose, underlying disease, or comedication. CONCLUSION: The study found that in our patients with pain, with relatively low doses of methadone, 5 percent had QTc times ≥500 ms and were thus at serious at risk for TdP. ECGs have to be made in all patients with methadone therapy 1 week after introducing methadone (or after dosage increases).

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the splanchnic nerves in patients with chronic pancreatitis: results of single and repeated procedures in 11 patients.

BACKGROUND: Pain is a major problem for chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients. Unfortunately, medical therapy often fails. Endoscopic and surgical treatments are invasive, and results vary. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of the splanchnic nerves (RFSN) is a relatively new and minimally invasive procedure for treatment of intractable pain in CP patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 18 RFSN procedures in 11 CP patients, all refractory to analgesics. Five patients underwent a second procedure; two patients underwent a third procedure. NRS pain scores were assessed. Complications, analgesics usage, and length of the pain-free period were recorded. RESULTS: Radiofrequency ablation of the splanchnic nerves was effective in 15/18 interventions. The mean NRS pain score decreased from 7.7 ± 1.0 to 2.8 ± 2.7 (P ≤ 0.001). The pain-free period lasted for a median period of 45 weeks. The effect of repeated interventions was comparable to the initial procedure. One transient side effect was reported. Four patients reported significantly reduced analgesic usage; 4 patients completely stopped their pain medication. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation of the splanchnic nerves is a minimally invasive, effective procedure for pain relief. After the effect has subsided, RFSN can be successfully repeated. RFSN might become an alternative treatment in a selected group of CP patients. A larger, randomized trial is justified to substantiate these findings.

Predictors of acute postoperative pain after elective surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Objectives:Despite efforts to improve acute postoperative pain management, a substantial number of patients still experience moderate to severe pain during the immediate postoperative days. The purpose of the present study was to identify predictors of moderate to severe acute postoperative pain. METHODS: Methods: A total of 1490 patients undergoing heterogeneous surgical procedures recorded their pain 3 times a day on a 100-mm visual analog scale from the day before the operation until 5 days postoperation. For each postoperative day, pain intensity was classified as moderate when the mean pain score was 41 to 74mm and as "severe when the mean pain score was 75 to 100 mm. Using logistic regression analyses, we examined the predictive value of a comprehensive set of preoperative and perioperative variables for moderate to severe pain. RESULTS: Results: The most important predictors seemed to be; preoperative pain, expected pain, surgical fear, and pain catastrophizing. DISCUSSION: Discussion: Several predictive factors of postoperative pain were identified in this study. These factors could be taken into account in postoperative pain management.

1. Trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a common cause of facial pain. It has a significant impact on the quality of life and the socioeconomic functioning of the patient. The aim of this review is to provide recommendations for medical management of trigeminal neuralgia based on current evidence. Based upon the analyses of the literature combined with experience in pain management, symptoms, assessment, differential diagnosis, and treatment possibilities of trigeminal neuralgia are described and discussed. Recommendations for pain management are given and are displayed in a clinical practice algorithm. Treatment should be multidisciplinary. Various treatment options and their risks should be discussed with the patient. The first treatment of choice is carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine. In younger patients, the first choice of invasive treatment is probably microvascular decompression. For elderly patients, radiofrequency treatment of Gasserian ganglion is recommended and the technique is described in detail.

Prevalence and predictors of postoperative pain after ear, nose, and throat surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine postoperative pain in different types of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery and their psychological preoperative predictors. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 217 patients undergoing ENT surgery. INTERVENTIONS: All ENT, neck, and salivary gland surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative pain and predictors for postoperative pain. RESULTS: Fifty percent of the patients undergoing surgery on the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal region and on the neck and salivary gland region had a visual analog scale score higher than 40 mm on day 1. In the patients who underwent oropharyngeal region operations the VAS score remained high on all 4 days. A VAS pain score higher than 40 mm was found in less than 30% of patients after endoscopic procedures and less than 20% after ear and nose surgery. After bivariate analysis, 6 variables--age, sex, preoperative pain, expected pain, short-term fear, and pain catastrophizing--had a predictive value. Multivariate analysis showed only preoperative pain, pain catastrophizing, and anatomical site of operation as independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Differences exist in the prevalence of unacceptable postoperative pain between ENT operations performed on different anatomical sites. A limited set of variables can be used to predict the occurrence of unacceptable postoperative pain after ENT surgery.