Multi-Component Care Bundle in Geriatric Fracture Hip for Reducing Post-Operative Delirium.

BACKGROUND: Delirium in elderly orthopaedic patients poses an enormous medical, social and financial burden to the healthcare system, and causes significant distress to patients and their caregivers. We examined whether a Multi-component Care Bundle (MCB) could reduce the incidence of post-operative delirium (POD) in fractured hip patients. METHODS: An observational study was conducted, analyzing 154 patients (mean age ± SD, 85 ± 7.8, 68% women) admitted to Queen Mary Hospital with hip fracture. Half of the patients were cared for in the control group before MCB was introduced, which included installation of orientation aids, introduction of a Caregiver Empowerment Program, and incorporation of ultrasound-guided Fascia Iliaca Block (FIB) into the analgesia protocol. RESULTS: There were fewer patients with POD in the MCB group, compared with the control group (18/76, 23.4% v 34/76, 44.2%, p = 0.006). Patients in MCB group consumed less opioid ( 4/77 v 13/77, p = 0.048), experienced less post-operative dizziness (2/77, 2.6% v 13/77, 16.9%, p = 0.003) and had a shorter median day to start walking post-operatively (day 1 [IQR 1-2] vs day 2 [IQR 2-3]; p = 0.001) than the control group. Length of stay was not affected. CONCLUSION: MCB effectively reduces POD, postoperative dizziness, opioid consumption, and days to start mobilization postoperatively.

Opioids in chronic non-cancer pain.

INTRODUCTION: The use of chronic opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain is growing and is now accepted as an effective treatment modality. AREAS COVERED: Although there are guidelines and reviews for chronic opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain patients, physicians may still have concerns and be reluctant to prescribe strong opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. Common issues and concerns when prescribing opioid for chronic pain management are reviewed and discussed. The literature search was done using Medline with key words 'chronic non-cancer pain', 'chronic opioid therapy', 'effectiveness', 'opioid tolerance', 'opioid-induced hyperalgesia', 'adverse effect', 'opioid dependency', 'addiction', 'monitoring', 'opioid contract' and various combinations with these key words. Studies from 1990 - 2010 have been included. This article helps readers to update, clarify and understand the common concerns when using opioid for chronic non-cancer pain. Clinical effectiveness and adverse effects with chronic opioid therapy, opioid tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia, opioid dependency and addiction, monitoring during chronic opioid use, and opioid contact are discussed in detailed. EXPERT OPINION: Not much strongly positive data supports the long-term use of opioids for pain relief, and the evidence for an improvement in functional activity is inconclusive. With careful selection of patients, meticulous prescription and monitoring protocol, chronic non-cancer pain patients who are likely to benefit from potent opioids should not be prevented from obtaining this treatment.