Terapia de oxigenación hiperbárica en el tratamiento del dolor / Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy in pain treatment

El dolor crónico constituye un reto terapéutico especial. Se presenta una revisión narrativa sobre el papel del tratamiento de oxigenación hiperbárica (TOHB) en el tratamiento del dolor neuropático, y sus aplicaciones en dolor crónico, síndromes neurosensitivos disfuncionales y oncodolor. El conocimiento de las indicaciones de TOHB en algiología y su aplicación en la práctica médica puede contribuir a mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente. (AU)

Chronic pain represents a special therapeutic challenge. We present a narrative review on the role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of neuropathic pain, and its applications in chronic pain, dysfunctional neurosensitive syndromes and oncological pain. The knowledge of the indications of HBOT in algiology and its application in medical practice can contribute to improve the quality of life of the patient. (AU)

Parche hemático como tratamiento de cefalea por hipotensión de líquido cefalorraquídeo espontánea / Blood patch as treatment of headache due to spontaneous hypotension of cerebrospinal fluid

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Radiosurgery for Arteriovenous Malformations and the Impact on Headaches.

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can underlie many diverse neurological signs and symptoms. Headaches are a common presentation that can have a significant impact on quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated Gamma Knife® stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) outcomes in patients with AVMs and associated headaches. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 102 patients with AVMs who underwent SRS between 1995 and 2013. The patient's headache symptoms led to their AVM diagnosis or developed post hemorrhage of their AVM. Information regarding headache characteristics was obtained from the patient's medical records and at follow-up using a scripted clinical interview. The median imaging follow-up was 61.7 months and clinical follow-up was 89.7 months. The median treatment volume at SRS was 4.1 cm3 and the median marginal dose was 20 Gy. RESULTS: The actuarial AVM obliteration rate was 60% at 5 years and 78% at 10 years. Patients reported that their overall headache severity decreased by -43.6% and their headache frequency was reduced by -53.4%. Headache reduction was reported in 49.1% of patients at 1 year and 69.5% at 5 years. The median time until improvement was 6.5 months. After SRS, headache medication usage decreased in 29% of patients. Permanent adverse radiation effects after SRS occurred in 3% of patients. Until obliteration was complete, the annual risk of a hemorrhage after SRS was 0.4% per year. CONCLUSION: Although recall bias related to a retrospective analysis can impact outcomes, headache symptoms associated with AVMs may potentially be decreased or eliminated in a subset of patients treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

Headache and analgesic in postoperative craniotomy

Objective: To identify the most prevalent type of pain in postoperative craniotomy patients and evaluate the use of analgesic in this group of patients. Method: The case studies consisted of 55 patients undergoing craniotomy. Patients were evaluated from the first to the seventh postoperative day. Data were stored and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. The variables analyzed were gender, demographic data, assessing the presence of pain, location of pain, severity of pain, use of analgesic, professionals who recorded the pain on the patients’ charts, and presence of insomnia. Results: The results show that headache, the main pain reported by the patients, is present from the first to the seventh postoperative day. It was observed that in some cases there was no prescription of analgesics and even in the group of patients who took analgesics, these drugs were not effective for the relief of headache. The final logistic regression model revealed that insomnia ( OR = 10.6, p = < 0.001 ), the pain recorded in the patients’ charts (OR = 2.38 , p = 0.016) and use of analgesic (OR = 2.03 , p = 0.014) adequately explained the outcome. Conclusion: Headache was the chief complaint of pain after postoperative craniotomy, and its intensity varied from mild to severe. The analgesic used was not effective for the control of postoperative headache. Proper handling of post-craniotomy headache by the multidisciplinary team can contribute to early neurological recovery of patients undergoing craniotomy, and should make the post-surgical care, with a view to early recovery and the humanization of care.

[Unusual cause of macrohematuria in a 29-year-old woman]. / Seltene Ursache einer Makrohämaturie bei einer 29-jährigen Patientin.

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: We report on the case of a young women presenting with macrohaematuria, petechiae and strong headaches. INVESTIGATIONS: Laboratory showed a thrombotic microangiopathy with helmet cells, increased LDH levels (>600 U/l), and thrombocytopenia (<40,000/µl). DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND COURSE: Due to strong haemolytic activity and headache with blurred vision, immediate plasma separation with fresh frozen plasma was commenced. Markedly decreased ADAMTS13 activity and detection of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies were consistent with the diagnosis of idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In total, 11 plasma separations were required to stop disease activity. In parallel, immunosuppressive therapy using glucocorticoids was initiated. The patient was discharged from the hospital in a good general condition and with normalized laboratory findings 26 days after hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with anemia and thrombocytopenia should be tested for haemolysis and helmet cells. An early diagnosis and initiation of necessary therapy are determining for the clinical outcome.

Thirty-two cases of vascular headache treated by acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal decoction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the acupuncture plus oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction with simple oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction in the treatment of vascular headache. METHODS: Sixty two patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (32 cases) and a control group (30 cases). Acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Shuaigu (GB 8), Xingjian (LR 2), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Ashi points combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction, was applied in the treatment group, and simple oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction was applied in the control group. RESULTS: The total therapeutic effect in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the frequency, and duration of the attacks were reduced and shortened, and headache greatly alleviated in both groups (P < 0.01). The alleviation in the treatment group was more obvious than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal decoction provided remarkable therapeutic effects in treating vascular headache.

[Trigeminal autonomic headache, hemicrania continua and hypnic headache. A review of rare primary headache forms]. / Trigeminoautonome Kopfschmerzen, Hemicrania continua und Hypnic Headache. Ein Uberblick über die seltenen primären Kopfschmerzformen.

Tension-type headache and migraine are the most common types of primary headaches. Apart from these well known diseases, the group of primary headaches includes other relatively rare headache disorders. Some of these seldom syndromes have been described for the first time within the last twenty years and have been newly included in the revised IHS classification from 2004. Their typical symptomatic is less known, but offers an excellent opportunity to diagnose these syndromes. The importance of recognising these disorders is underlined by the fact, that rare primary headaches response often complete and rapid to a specific treatment. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the clinical presentation and treatment of cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, SUNCT syndrome, hemicrania continua and hypnic headache.

[Paroxysmal hemicrania]. / Paroksizmalna hemikranija.

Paroxysmal hemicrania (PH) is one of the trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs), a group of primary headache disorders characterized by unilateral trigeminal distribution pain that occurs in association with prominent ipsilateral cranial autonomic features. The TACs are relatively rare, which is likely to be why they are poorly recognized in primary care. TACs will thus be referred to neurologists eventually, offering an excellent opportunity to diagnose and treat these patients. PH responds in a dramatic and absolute fashion to indomethacin. The importance of recognizing these syndromes is underscored by their excellent but highly selective response to treatment. This is the case report of our patient with PH and the review of current knowledge about pathophysiology of TACs, as well as differential diagnosis of other entities from this headache group.

A pilot study of feasibility and efficacy of telemedicine-delivered psychophysiological treatment for vascular headache.

Headache is a common complaint. Psychological treatment has been effective in managing the symptoms of vascular (migraine and combined migraine-tension) headache. Traditional office-based treatment may be inconvenient for many patients in terms of time and travel constraints, thereby limiting access. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising delivery medium to address these barriers to access. However, the efficacy of remotely delivered treatment for vascular headache remains untested. This case series is a preliminary evaluation of effectiveness and feasibility of an analogue telemedicine system for delivery of psychophysiological treatment for vascular headache. Three of four subjects showed improvement. These findings are encouraging for follow-up study of the clinical utility and broader viability of headache treatment via distance technology.

Effective management of ice pick pains, SUNCT, and episodic and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania.

Idiopathic stabbing headaches, the SUNCT syndrome, and the paroxysmal hemicranias are a group of primary headache disorders that are characterized by brief, short-lived attacks of head pain, which recur multiple times throughout the day. These syndromes are much less prevalent than other types of primary headaches such as migraine and tension-type headaches but are significantly more disabling. Recognition of these uncommon disorders is important because their management differs from standard headache therapies.

Efficacy and effect of SI17 therapy on pancreatic polypeptide in vascular and tension-type headache.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vascular and tension-type headache is most commonly encountered, and SI17 therapy has been tested to treat headache with good results. The efficacy of SI17 therapy for vascular and tension-type headache was compared and the effect of SI17 therapy on pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 29 cases of vascular headache (20 cases in acute attack during the trial) and 27 cases of tension-type headache (19 cases in acute attack) were enrolled in the study. Plasma PP level before and 4th day after treatment was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: SI17 therapy is better for the treatment of vascular headache. Vascular headache with higher PP level and tension-type headache with normal PP level had good therapeutic results. CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy is better for vascular headache with the increase of vagus tension and for tension-type headache with normal vagus tension.

Cefaleas trigeminales autonómicas / Trigeminal autonomic headache

Entre las cefaleas trigeminales autonomicas están las cefaleas en racimos, con sus variedades atipicas, las hemicráneas paroxísticas, las cefaleas neuralgiformes de corta duracio'n con inyeccidn conjuntival y lagrimeo (SUNCT) y la hemicránea continua. Se plantea el dolor vascular oral dentro de esta clasificación. Estos cuadros han sido reclasificados recientemente: comentamos en este trabajo de revisión los criterios diagnóstico, sus diagnósticos diferenciales y el tratamiento (AU)

Direction of temperature control in the thermal biofeedback treatment of vascular headache.

In order to test for the specific therapeutic effects of thermal biofeedback (TBF) for hand warming on vascular headache (HA), 70 patients with chronic vascular HA were randomly assigned to TBF for hand warming, TBF for hand cooling, TBF for stabilization of hand temperature, or biofeedback to suppress alpha in the EEG. Patients in each condition initially had high levels of expectation of therapeutic benefit and found the treatment rationales highly credible. Participants in each condition received 12 treatment sessions on a twice-per-week basis. Based on daily HA diary data gathered for 4 weeks prior to treatment and 4 weeks after treatment, HA Index was significantly (p = .003) reduced as was HA medication consumption. There were no differential reductions in HA Index or Medication Index among the four conditions. Global self-reports of improvement gathered at the end of the post-treatment monitoring period also did not differ among the four conditions. We were unable to demonstrate a specific effect of TBF for hand warming on vascular HA activity.