Multidisciplinary Decision-Making-ITAlian Consensus After Two Years of Real Practice on the Management of Severe Uncontrolled CRSwNP by Biologics (ITACA Study).

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We aimed to reach an Italian multidisciplinary consensus on some crucial aspects of treatment decision making in CRSwNP, following 2 years of clinical experience in order to support specialists in the management of CRSwNP in clinical practice. We addressed issues relating to therapeutic decision-making and shared criteria for the treatment choice, as well as appropriate timing and criteria for evaluating treatment response, and highlighted the need for repeated multidisciplinary assessments. RECENT FINDINGS: A national survey has been conducted recently to understand how rhinology practice has changed in Italy with the advent of biologics and how this affects patients with uncontrolled, severe CRSwNP. Despite the many published consensus documents, practical recommendations, and protocols on the use of biologics in CRSwNP, heterogenous behaviors in practice are still observed mainly conditioned by the novelty of the topic. The consensus procedure followed a modified Delphi approach. The scientific board included 18 otorhinolaryngologists and 8 allergists, who selected the 4 main topics to be addressed and developed overall 20 statements. Consensus on these statements was sought by a larger group of 48 additional experts, through two rounds of voting, the first web-based, the second in presence with discussion and possible refinement of the statements. The statements reaching an average score ≥ 7 at the second voting round were approved. Five statements were proposed for each of the following topics: baseline evaluation of patients eligible for biologic therapy; choice between different therapeutic options; assessment of the response to biologic treatment; multidisciplinary management. At the first voting round, 19 out of the 20 statements reached a mean score ≥ 7. Following the discussion and a few consequent amendments, at the second round of voting all the 20 statements were approved.

A multidisciplinary approach to the management of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease: a clinical perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Management of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) can be encumbered by difficult diagnostic criteria and complex treatment decisions. As prevalence of this debilitating, often refractory, progressive lung disease increases globally, management must evolve beyond antimicrobials to encompass holistic and customized treatments coordinated by practitioners across various specialties. AREAS COVERED: This review aims to complement the recently updated NTM-LD treatment guidelines and expand current approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and disease management in a multidisciplinary dimension. The foundation of effective long-term management of NTM-LD is awareness of diagnostic criteria, individual patient risk factors, and the importance of managing underlying pulmonary and nonpulmonary comorbidities. The value of adopting all available pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment modalities with a patient-centered approach to address the needs of long-term patient care cannot be minimized. EXPERT OPINION: This section, while acknowledging the limited advances in understanding of NTM-LD and the availability of newer diagnostic and therapeutic tools over the last decade, underscores the need for a programmatic approach to this chronic, debilitating pulmonary infection. This will not only lead to more comprehensive patient care with better outcomes, but will also inspire and activate robust networks of research and public health initiatives in this field.

How Have Chronic Pain Management Programs Progressed? A Mapping Review.

OBJECTIVES: Multidisciplinary pain management programs (PMPs) were established in the 1970s and are widely regarded as the gold standard management for people with chronic, noncancer pain. However, the recommended content of PMPs is not well described. The aim of the study was to determine the most common content and structure of inpatient PMPs, and describe how these have changed over time. METHODS: A mapping review was performed of studies incorporating an inpatient PMP. Information on the content, format, structure, clinicians involved, and outcome measures was extracted. Publications were analyzed across 5 decades from the 1970s to the 2010s. RESULTS: One hundred and four studies were included. All programs included physical therapy and psychology components, and most included education. While the physical therapy component did not change substantially, there was a shift from operant conditioning approaches to more cognitive behavioral methods over time, along with a reduction in active medication withdrawal and family involvement. Involvement of physical therapists, physicians, and psychologists remained high in the programs, but the inclusion of nurses and occupational therapists declined from the 2000s. The outcome measures revealed a shift to assessment of quality of life and general health. DISCUSSION: Some of the content and format of PMPs has evolved over time, largely with developments in psychological approaches, and there is now more of a holistic approach to assessment.

Different quality of treatment in retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) according to hospital-case volume and surgeon-case volume: a retrospective regional analysis in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) should be surgically managed in specialized sarcoma centers. However, it is not clearly demonstrated if clinical outcome is more influenced by Center Case Volume (CCV) or by Surgeon Case Volume (SCV). The aim of this study is to retrospectively explore the relationship between CCV and SCV and the quality of surgery in a wide region of Northern Italy. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data about patients M0 surgically treated for RPSs in 22 different hospitals from 2006 to 2011, dividing them in two hospital groups according to sarcoma clinical activity volume (HCV, high case volume or LCV, low case volume hospitals). The HCV group (> 100 sarcomas observed per year) included a Comprehensive Cancer Center (HVCCC) with a high sarcoma SCV (> 20 cases/year), and a Tertiary Academic Hospital (HVTCA) with multiple surgeon teams and a low sarcoma SCV (≤ 5 cases/year for each involved surgeon). All other hospitals were included in the LCV group (< 100 sarcomas observed per year). RESULTS: Data regarding 138 patients were collected. Patients coming from LCV hospitals (66) were excluded from the analysis as prognostic data were frequently not available. Among the 72 remaining cases of HCV hospitals 60% of cases had R0/R1 margins, with a more favorable distribution of R0/R1 versus R2 in HVCCC compared to HVTCA. CONCLUSIONS: In HCV hospitals, sarcoma SCV may significantly influence RPS treatment quality. In low-volume centers surgical reports can often miss important prognostic issues and surgical quality is generally poor.

Long-Term Outcome of Interdisciplinary Management of Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Receiving Daily Glucocorticoid Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcomes and steroid side effects in a cohort of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) treated with long-term daily glucocorticoid therapy. Although daily glucocorticoid therapy has been shown to extend ambulatory function in DMD, less frequent dosing is often used because of side effect concerns. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 97 patients with DMD aged 10 to <16 years treated with daily glucocorticoid (89% on deflazacort) for a mean of 8.5 years. Outcome measures were motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function, and scoliosis. Side effects were growth failure and weight gain, facial fullness, blood pressure, bone health, cataracts, gastrointestinal symptoms, behavior, hypertrichosis, and need for medication interventions. RESULTS: For 13- to 16-year-old patients, 40% could rise from the floor and 50% could perform the 30-foot run test. Forced vital capacity for the entire cohort was well preserved. Thirteen percent of younger (10- to <13-year-old) and 21% of older patients had findings of left ventricle systolic dysfunction. Six percent (all aged 16 years) developed scoliosis (Cobb angle >20 degrees). Eighty-six percent had normal weight velocities; 30% had no increased facial fullness; 72% had short stature; and 19% had asymptomatic cataracts. Asymptomatic spine compression deformities were noted in 76% and long bone fractures in 30%. One patient stopped glucocorticoid because of behavioral concerns. CONCLUSIONS: With evidence for improved outcomes and manageable side effects, we recommend use of daily glucocorticoid therapy for patients with DMD with anticipatory management of side effects and a coordinated interdisciplinary care approach.

A holistic approach to chronic pain management that involves all stakeholders: change is needed.

Chronic pain affects a large proportion of the population, imposing significant individual distress and a considerable burden on society, yet treatment is not always instituted and/or adequate. Comprehensive multidisciplinary management based on the biopsychosocial model of pain has been shown to be clinically effective and cost-efficient, but is not widely available. A literature review of stakeholder groups revealed many reasons for this, including: i) many patients believe healthcare professionals lack relevant knowledge, and consultations are rushed, ii) general practitioners consider that pain management has a low priority and is under-resourced, iii) pain specialists cite non-adherence to evidence-based treatment, sub-optimal prescribing, and chronic pain not being regarded as a disease in its own right, iv) nurses', pharmacists' and physiotherapists' skills are not fully utilized, and v) psychological therapy is employed infrequently and often too late. Many of the issues relating to physicians could be addressed by improving medical training, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels - for example, by making pain medicine a compulsory core subject of the undergraduate medical curriculum. This would improve physician/patient communication, increase the use of standardized pain assessment tools, and allow more patients to participate in treatment decisions. Patient care would also benefit from improved training for other multidisciplinary team members; for example, nurses could provide counseling and follow-up support, psychologists offer coping skills training, and physiotherapists have a greater role in rehabilitation. Equally important measures include the widespread adoption of a patient-centered approach, chronic pain being recognized as a disease in its own right, and the development of universal guidelines for managing chronic non-cancer pain. Perhaps the greatest barrier to improvement is lack of political will at both national and international level. Some powerful initiatives and collaborations are currently lobbying policy-making bodies to raise standards and reduce unnecessary pain - it is vital they continue.

Screening, evaluation, and management of cancer-related fatigue: Ready for implementation to practice?

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Evidence regarding cancer-related fatigue (fatigue) has accumulated sufficiently such that recommendations for screening, evaluation, and/or management have been released recently by 4 leading cancer organizations. These evidence-based fatigue recommendations are available for clinicians, and some have patient versions; but barriers at the patient, clinician, and system levels hinder dissemination and implementation into practice. The underlying biologic mechanisms for this debilitating symptom have not been elucidated completely, hindering the development of mechanistically driven interventions. However, significant progress has been made toward methods for screening and comprehensively evaluating fatigue and other common symptoms using reliable and valid self-report measures. Limited data exist to support the use of any pharmacologic agent; however, several nonpharmacologic interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing fatigue in adults. Never before have evidence-based recommendations for fatigue management been disseminated by 4 premier cancer organizations (the National Comprehensive Cancer, the Oncology Nursing Society, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer/Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology). Clinicians may ask: Are we ready for implementation into practice? The reply: A variety of approaches to screening, evaluation, and management are ready for implementation. To reduce fatigue severity and distress and its impact on functioning, intensified collaborations and close partnerships between clinicians and researchers are needed, with an emphasis on system-wide efforts to disseminate and implement these evidence-based recommendations.

Orofacial pain: a guide for the headache physician.

Orofacial pain represents a significant burden in terms of morbidity and health service utilization. It includes very common disorders such as toothache and temporomandibular disorders, as well as rare orofacial pain syndromes. Many orofacial pain conditions have overlapping presentations, and diagnostic uncertainty is frequently encountered in clinical practice. This review provides a clinically orientated overview of common and uncommon orofacial pain presentations and diagnoses, with an emphasis on conditions that may be unfamiliar to the headache physician. A holistic approach to orofacial pain management is important, and the social, cultural, psychological and cognitive context of each patient needs to be considered in the process of diagnostic formulation, as well as in the development of a pain management plan according to the biopsychosocial model. Recognition of psychological comorbidities will assist in diagnosis and management planning.

Dor pélvica crônica não visceral: tratamento multidisciplinar. Relato de caso / Chronic non-visceral pelvic pain: multidisciplinary management. Case report

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain among females is approximately 4%, similar to the prevalence of migraine (2.1%), asthma (3.7%) and low back pain (4.1%). Its diagnosis and management are major challenges for the health team. This report aimed at showing the difficulty of diagnosing and managing chronic pelvic pain and the importance of the multidisciplinary team for pain relief. CASE REPORT: Forty-five years old patient with pelviperineal pain for six years after hysteroscopy and uterine polyp excision. Severe pain, starting in the immediate postoperative period has evolved along this period without improvement, leading her to look for the Chronic Abdominal, Pelvic and Perineal Pain Outpatient Clinic of the Interdisciplinary Pain Center, Clinicas Hospital, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary management, involving drugs, inactivation of trigger-points (anesthetic infiltration, dry needling, acupuncture), physiotherapy, postural reeducation and psychosocial support, has provided patient's significant pain relief and improved quality of life.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A prevalência de dor pélvica crônica no sexo feminino é de aproximadamente 4%, similar à prevalência da enxaqueca (2,1%), asma (3,7%) e dor lombar (4,1%). Seu diagnóstico e tratamento constitui um grande desafio para a equipe de saúde. Este estudo teve por objetivo mostrar a dificuldade no diagnóstico e tratamento de dor pélvica crônica e a importância da equipe multidisciplinar no alívio do quadro doloroso. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente de 45 anos, com quadro de dor pelviperineal há 6 anos, após histeroscopia para exérese de pólipo uterino. A dor que iniciou no pós-operatório imediato, de forte intensidade, evoluiu ao longo desse período sem melhora e motivou-a a buscar o Ambulatório de Dor Abdominal, Pélvica e Perineal Crônica do Centro Interdisciplinar de Dor do Hospital de Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento multidisciplinar que abrangeu o uso de fármacos, inativação dos pontos-gatilho (infiltração com anestésicos, agulhamento seco, acupuntura), fisioterapia, reeducação postural e suporte psicossocial, proporcionou melhora significativa da dor e da qualidade de vida da paciente.