AMAZONE: prevention of persistent pain after breast cancer treatment by online cognitive behavioral therapy-study protocol of a randomized controlled multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Surviving breast cancer does not necessarily mean complete recovery to a premorbid state of health. Among the multiple psychological and somatic symptoms that reduce the quality of life of breast cancer survivors, persistent pain after breast cancer treatment (PPBCT) with a prevalence of 15-65% is probably the most invalidating. Once chronic, PPBCT is difficult to treat and requires an individualized multidisciplinary approach. In the past decades, several somatic and psychological risk factors for PPBCT have been identified. Studies aiming to prevent PPBCT by reducing perioperative pain intensity have not yet shown a significant reduction of PPBCT prevalence. Only few studies have been performed to modify psychological distress around breast cancer surgery. The AMAZONE study aims to investigate the effect of online cognitive behavioral therapy (e-CBT) on the prevalence of PPBCT. METHODS: The AMAZONE study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial, with an additional control arm. Patients (n=138) scheduled for unilateral breast cancer surgery scoring high for surgical or cancer-related fears, general anxiety or pain catastrophizing are randomized to receive either five sessions of e-CBT or online education consisting of information about surgery and a healthy lifestyle (EDU). The first session is scheduled before surgery. In addition to the online sessions, patients have three online appointments with a psychotherapist. Patients with low anxiety or catastrophizing scores (n=322) receive treatment as usual (TAU, additional control arm). Primary endpoint is PPBCT prevalence 6 months after surgery. Secondary endpoints are PPBCT intensity, the intensity of acute postoperative pain during the first week after surgery, cessation of postoperative opioid use, PPBCT prevalence at 12 months, pain interference, the sensitivity of the nociceptive and non-nociceptive somatosensory system as measured by quantitative sensory testing (QST), the efficiency of endogenous pain modulation assessed by conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and quality of life, anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, and fear of recurrence until 12 months post-surgery. DISCUSSION: With perioperative e-CBT targeting preoperative anxiety and pain catastrophizing, we expect to reduce the prevalence and intensity of PPBCT. By means of QST and CPM, we aim to unravel underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The online application facilitates accessibility and feasibility in a for breast cancer patients emotionally and physically burdened time period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR NL9132 , registered December 16 2020.

Individualized multidisciplinary analgesia to prevent persistent postsurgical pain.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Persistent postsurgical pain as outcome of surgery has reached more attention in the past years. In the first place because of related disability, long-term use of (opioid)analgesics and impact on the quality of life of individual patients. In addition, the individual and societal socio-economic burden of PPSP is high and increasing in the light of increasing numbers of surgery world-wide. RECENT FINDINGS: Actual studies identified risk factors for persistent postsurgical pain in relevant patient populations. Astonishingly, most of predicting factors seem unrelated to surgery. SUMMARY: Future perioperative practice will have to focus on identifying patients at risk for PPSP before surgery and develop/offer suitable individually tailored preventive interventions.

Effect of celecoxib and dexamethasone on postoperative pain after lumbar disc surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the efficacy of perioperative administration of celecoxib (Celebrex; Pharmacia GmbH, Erlangen, Germany) in reducing pain and opioid requirements after single-level lumbar microdiscectomy. METHODS: We studied 34 patients (mean age, 44.26 yr; standard deviation [SD], 13.09 yr) allocated randomly to receive celecoxib 200 mg twice a day for 72 hours starting on the evening before surgery or placebo capsules in a double-blind study. Fourteen patients received 20 to 80 mg dexamethasone intravenously during surgery (mean, 40 mg; SD, 19.22 mg) because of visible signs of compression of the affected nerve root. After lumbar disc surgery, patients were monitored for visual analog scores for pain at rest and on movement, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) piritramide requirements, and von Frey thresholds in the wound area. RESULTS: Pain scores decreased and wound von Frey thresholds increased continuously until discharge, with no intergroup differences. Mean 24-hour PCA piritramide requirements were 22.63 mg (SD, 23.72 mg) and 26.14 mg (SD, 22.57 mg) in the celecoxib and placebo groups, respectively (P = not significant). However, patients with intraoperative dexamethasone (n = 14) required only 10.29 mg (SD, 8.55 mg) 24-hour PCA piritramide, in contrast to the 34.25 mg (SD, 24.69 mg) needed in those who did not receive intraoperative dexamethasone (P = 0.001). In addition, 24 hours after the operation, pain scores on movement were significantly lower in the dexamethasone subgroup (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Celecoxib has no effect on postoperative pain scores and PCA piritramide requirements. The intraoperative use of 20 to 80 mg dexamethasone is able to significantly decrease postoperative piritramide consumption and pain scores on the first day after surgery.