Evaluación de dolor en niños hospitalizados en servicios de salud públicos y privados de Uruguay / Pain assessment in children hospitalized in public and private health institutions in Uruguay

El dolor es un problema de salud frecuentemente no reconocido e ignorado en pediatría.. Objetivo::reportar la prevalencia de dolor en niños hospitalizados: las 24 horas previas y en el momento de la entrevista. De los pacientes con dolor actual describir: intensidad y tratamiento indicado.. Metodología::estudio transversal, el 6/12/13 en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell (CHPR) y el 20/1/14 en otras instituciones del país. Se incluyeron los menores de 15 años hospitalizados. Se consideró paciente con dolor cuando el niño o su cuidador referían haberlo experimentado en las 24 horas previas y/o en el momento de la entrevista. Variables: edad, sexo, motivo de ingreso, trastorno cognitivo, tratamiento analgésico indicado, vía e intervalo de administración, tratamiento adyuvante y medidas no farmacológicas. La intensidad se evaluó mediante escalas.. Resultados::se encontraron: 168 niños hospitalizados, 109 en el CHPR; prevalencia de: dolor en las 24 horas previas: 35% (59/168) y en el momento de la encuesta: 15,5% (26/168). De los niños con dolor actual la intensidad era: leve 8/26, moderado 14/26 y severo 4/26. No tenían indicación de fármacos analgésicos: 9/26. El analgésico más indicado fue dipirona (11/17) y la asociación más prescripta: dipirona-ketoprofeno (5/17). Se constató: indicación de intervalo no adecuado: 7/17; vía intravenosa: 12/17; tratamiento adyuvante y medidas no farmacológicas: 1 cada uno.. Conclusiones::se constataron niños hospitalizados con dolor y déficits diversos en los tratamientos indicados. Es necesario que las instituciones sanitarias aborden este problema como parte de su política institucional.

Pain is a health problem often unrecognized and ignored in pediatrics. Objective: to report the prevalence of pain in hospitalized children: 24 hours before and during the interview. To describe intensity and prescribed treatment in patients with current pain. Methods: transversal study, on 06/12/13 at Pereira Rossell Hospital Center (PRHC) and on 20/1/14 in other institutions. Hospitalized children under 15 years old were included. “Patient in pain” was considered when the child or caregiver reported pain experienced in the previous 24 hours and/or at the time of the interview. Variables: age, gender, reason for admission, cognitive disorder, analgesic treatment indicated, route of administration, dosing interval, adjuvant and non-pharmacological treatments. Validated scales were used to assess intensity. Results: 168 hospitalized children, 109 at PRHC; prevalence of pain in the previous 24 hours: 35% (59/168) and during the interview: 15.5% (26/168). Intensity of pain found in children with current pain was: 8/26 mild, 14/26 moderate and 4/26 severe; 9/26 did not have any analgesic prescription. The most prescribed analgesic was: dipirone (11/17) and most prescribed association was: dipirone-ketoprofen (5/17). Interdose interval was inappropriate in 7/17; intravenous route of administration was indicated in 12/17; adjuvant and non-pharmacological treatments were found in one patient each. Conclusions: hospitalized children in pain and several problems in analgesic treatment prescription were found. Institutional policies directed to address this problem in management are needed.

Comparative assessment of effectiveness of ketoprofen and ketoprofen/beta-cyclodextrin complex in two experimental models of inflammation in rats.

Oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to adverse effects such as gastrointestinal distress. The complexation of different groups of active substances with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) has drawn considerable interest over recent years. The purpose of this study was to analyze the ketoprofen/ß-cyclodextrin (K/ß-CD) conjugate complex as well as to assess its anti-inflammatory effect after oral administration (doses of 30 mg/m(2) and 15 mg/m(2) of body surface), compared with ketoprofen. The studies were done on two models of experimentally-induced acute inflammation in rats (n = 48, 6/group), by means of intraplantar administration of a 10% aqueous kaolin suspension and intraperitoneal administration of a 1% sodium thioglycolate solution. The dynamics of the acute inflammatory process and the anti-inflammatory effects were monitored using plethysmometric determinations after 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 and 48 h (plantar inflammation), and the absorbance of the exudates (spectrophotometrically read) and nucleated cell counts after 24 h (peritoneal inflammation). The coupling of ketoprofen with ß-CD resulted in increased solubility (100% in 60 min) of the newly-formed product, which further resulted in a higher bioavailability compared with ketoprofen (<40% in 120 min). In both models of experimentally-induced inflammation, the K/ß-CD complex had a higher anti-inflammatory activity than ketoprofen.

[Assessment of practices in postoperative analgesia in caesarean before and after implementation of an information program]. / Évaluation des pratiques de prise en charge analgésique en postopératoire de césarienne avant et après mesures d'amélioration.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the improvement of practices in postoperative analgesia after a cesarean section post implementation of a corrective program. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective impact study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After obtaining ethics approval, we included all patients undergoing a cesarean section at Montpellier University Hospital during February 2011 (PRE group) and March 2012 (POST group). The patients were interviewed on the fourth day postpartum about pain management and related data was collected from the chart. From March 2011 to February 2012, training sessions were held for the paramedical and medical teams. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included in each group. The two groups were not significantly different. The mean overall numeric rating scale worst pain score between Day 0 and Day 4 in POST group was lower (5.5±2.5 vs. 6.5±2.4 p<0.01) and impairment during mobilization decreased significantly. Compliance with protocols improved in the POST group: the number of women receiving full analgesia regiment increased from 12% to 68% between PRE and POST period. CONCLUSION: After an awareness campaign of the paramedical and medical staff, we succeeded in improving significantly the routine use of analgesics regardless of their level. Nevertheless healthcare professionals still seem reluctant to administer opioids.

Assessment of preemptive analgesia efficacy in surgical extraction of third molars.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Literature on preemptive analgesia is controversial. Reliability of results and difficult reproducibility of research contribute for non-elucidation of the subject. The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of oral ketoprofen (150 mg) preemptively administrated two days before third molar surgery, compared with postoperative administration in the same patient. METHODS: Thirteen patients underwent surgical removal of bilateral third molar in two separate procedures. In a random and double blind procedure, oral ketoprofen 150 mg was administered every 12 hours two days before surgery and, after the procedure, the same drug was administered for three days. On the other side, a control (placebo) was used orally every 12 hours two days before surgery and, after the procedure, ketoprofen 150 mg was administered every 12 hours for three days. Postoperative pain was assessed by visual analogue scale, nominal scale, and amount of rescue analgesics consumed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative pain between the preemptive treatment and control. CONCLUSION: In this experimental model, preemptive analgesia was not effective in reducing postoperative pain in surgical extraction of third molar compared with the postoperative administration of the same drug.

[Assessment of quality in day-case hand surgery]. / Démarche d'assurance qualité en chirurgie ambulatoire de la main.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of satisfaction in terms of pain relief and comfort among patients receiving different postoperative analgesia protocols after hand surgery under regional anaesthesia in a day care unit. METHODS: Cohort study among patients after hand surgery under regional anaesthesia during two consecutive three months time periods, with patient stratification according to the expected pain level with different balanced analgesia protocols (group A: carpal tunnel, group B: other surgery without bone involvement, group C: bone surgery). A telephone survey, scoring analgesia and comfort, each with a numerical (0-10) scale was conducted on days 1 and 7. During the first period analgesia for groups A and B was the same (acetaminophen-dextropropoxyphene or acetaminophen-codeine) and group C patients were treated with acetaminophen-ketoprofen-tramadol. In the second period analgesia was reduced for group A (acetaminophen alone) and increased for group B (acetaminophen-ketoprofen-tramadol) and group C (duration increased from 3 to 7 days). RESULTS: For carpal tunnel surgery, analgesia with acetaminophen alone was efficient, (Pain scale [PS] d0=2[0-10], PS d1=1 [0-10] and PS d2-d4=0,5 [0-10]). This surgery does not elicit important pain, there is no benefit in adding other analgesics. For group B, a significant improvement in postoperative pain was observed (postoperative d1 p<0.03) with a major increase in side effects (2/57 vs 17/48 p<0.001). For group C, therapeutic changes were ineffective (PS d0=2 vs 3.5 et PS d1=3 vs 5 [NS]) and we noticed an increase in side effects (p<0.05). One third of all patients are totally satisfied on day 7, logistic regression showing the role of inefficient analgesia in late postoperative period (PS>2 between d2-d4). Between day 1 and day 7, 20% of the patients change their point of view, those who feel less satisfied on day 7 complained of a more severe postoperative pain between day 2 and 4 (p<0.001) and between day 5-7 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: For hand surgery on day case, quality of late postoperative analgesia (day 2-day 7) is strongly related to patient's satisfaction on day 7.

[Comparative assessment of methods for prevention of microvascular anastomotic thrombosis at reparative plastic surgery for cancer].

Four therapeutic-and-prophylactic drug complexes aimed at preventing microvascular anastomotic thrombosis and used as a part of anesthesiological appliance and intensive care were studied in 83 cancer patients who underwent planned extensive reparative plastic operations with microsurgical autoplasty. The drug complexes included pathogenetically substantiated special agents, such as low molecular-weight heparin (nadroparin), the gas-transport blood substitute perfluorane, the kininogenesis inhibitor (aprotinine), the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen, the disaggregant pentoxifylline (trental), which were given in various combinations. The study of hemostatic parameters and the analysis of postoperative (hemorrhagic, necrotic) complications have demonstrated that fraxiparin-perfluorane-contrycal and fraxiparin-trental-contrycal are the most optimal therapeutic-and-prophylactic complexes to preserve the viability of autografts during oncological operations with microsurgical autoplasty.

Efficacy of oral rofecoxib versus intravenous ketoprofen as an adjuvant to PCA morphine after urologic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Adjunctive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has become increasingly popular in the perioperative period because of their opioid-sparing effects. This randomized, controlled, double-dummy study was designed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using oral rofecoxib as an alternative to intravenous ketoprofen for pain management in patients undergoing urologic surgery. METHODS: Seventy patients were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo (Control) or rofecoxib 50 mg po (Rofecoxib) 1 h prior to surgery. After a standardized spinal anesthetic, patients in the Control group received ketoprofen 100 mg IV q 8 h for 24 h, while the Rofecoxib group received an equivolume of saline at 8-h intervals for 24 h. Both groups were allowed to self-administer morphine (1 mg IV boluses) using a PCA delivery system. The need for 'rescue' analgesic medication, as well as pain scores [using an 11-point verbal rating scale (VRS) (0 = none to 10-severe)], were recorded at 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24-h intervals after surgery. In addition, the incidences of side-effects were recorded at the end of the study period. RESULTS: Total amount of morphine required in the initial 24-h postoperative period was nonsignificantly reduced in the Rofecoxib group (29 +/- 2 vs. 37 +/- 4 mg). More importantly, the percentage of patients reporting moderate-to-severe pain (VRS score > or =4) during the study period was lower in the Rofecoxib group (12 vs. 22%, P < 0.05). The daily cost of rofecoxib (USD 1.14 for 50-mg dose) was also significantly less than ketoprofen (USD 3.06 for three 100-mg doses). CONCLUSION: Premedication with oral rofecoxib (50 mg) is a cost-effective alternative to the parenteral nonselective NSAID, ketoprofen (100 mg q 8 h), when used as an adjuvant to PCA morphine for pain management after urologic surgery.

The economic consequences of NSAID-induced gastropathy: the French context.

The costs of treating gastroduodenal ulcers caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are shown to increase the total cost of NSAID treatment to the Assurance-Maladie, the French national health insurance system. This increased cost is termed the iatrogenic cost factor, and is defined as the ratio of the shadow price of an NSAID to its reimbursed cost. The shadow price is calculated from estimates of the incidence of NSAID-induced gastropathies, the cost of the drug, and the hospital and ambulatory costs of treating the gastropathies. The resulting iatrogenic cost factors are estimated as 1.36 for naproxen, 1.48 for sulindac, 1.65 for diclofenac, 1.67 for piroxicam, 2.00 for ketoprofen, and 2.12 for etodolac.

An articular index for the assessment of osteoarthritis.

An articular index was devised for the sequential assessment of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Forty-eight joint units, chosen to reflect the characteristic pattern of the disease, were scored for tenderness on pressure or movement on a 4-point scale. Four observers examined patients to assess inter- and intraobserver error. The index was highly reproducible both within and between observers; intraobserver error was, however, significantly smaller. In a double-blind, cross-over trial the index was sufficiently sensitive to detect a statistically significant difference between the responses of patients with OA to an anti-inflammatory agent and to a simple analgesic. It is likely to be a useful addition to current methods of measurement in osteoarthritis.

A double-blind crossover evaluation of ketoprofen (Orudis) and placebo in rheumatoid arthritis with assessment of long-term tolerance.

A two-week double-blind crossover study of ketoprofen, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent, and placebo was done in ten patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in order to obtain a preliminary efficacy estimate of this new drug. Even after only one week of treatment, joint activity was significantly reduced while other parameters of disease activity showed strong clinical trends in favour of the drug. Only one adverse reaction (mild nausea) was reported during ketoprofen therapy. At the conclusion of the double-blind study, seven patients volunteered to continue on ketoprofen to evaluate the tolerance of the drug during proptracted administration. All patients completed over twelve months of treatment. Overall, ketoprofen gave good control of pain and inflammation, gastro-intestinal disturbance was reported in a single instance and laboratory values were not adversely affected by the drug.