Correction: Bienfait et al. Evaluation of 8% Capsaicin Patches in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Retrospective Study in a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Cancers 2023, 15, 349.

In the original publication [...].

Evaluation of 8% Capsaicin Patches in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Retrospective Study in a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Introduction: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is often painful and can arise during or after the end of oncological treatments. They are mostly induced by platinum salts, taxanes, and immunotherapies. Their incidence is estimated between 19 and 85%. They can require a chemotherapy dose reduction or early termination. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) recommends high-concentration capsaicin patch (HCCP) in second line for the treatment of painful CIPN. This treatment induces a significative pain relief but only shown by low-powered studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of HCCP applications in CIPN. Methods: This monocentric observational retrospective real-world-data study of the CERCAN cohort took place in the Western Cancer Institute's Anaesthesiology and Pain Department at Angers, France. Independent pain physicians completed the CGIC (Clinician Global Impression of Change) for each patient who benefited from HCCP applications for painful CIPN starting from 1 January 2014 to 22 December 2021, based on the collected data after every patch application. Results: A total of 57 patients (80.7% women) was treated with HCCP for painful CIPN, and 184 applications were realized, consisting of 296 sessions. CGIC found an important or complete pain relief for 61 applications (33.2%, corresponding to 43.9% patients). We found less efficacy for platinum-salts-induced CIPN compared to others (p = 0.0238). The efficacy was significatively higher for repeated applications when HCCP was used in second line compared to third line (p = 0.018). The efficacy of HCCP was significatively higher starting the third application (p = 0.0334). HCCPs were mainly responsible for local adverse events found in 66.6% patients (65.1% burning or painful sensation, 21.1% erythema). Conclusion: HCCP applications in painful CIPN induce an important pain relief with a global satisfying tolerability.

Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Following Breast Cancer: Effectiveness and Tolerability of High-Concentration Capsaicin Patch.

PURPOSE: Data supporting the use of high-concentration capsaicin patches (HCCPs) in breast cancer (BC) patients and BC survivors (BCSs) with peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) are limited. This observational study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of HCCP applications in BCSs/BC patients with PNP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from all patients treated with HCCP in the pain department of a French comprehensive cancer centre were collected from 01-Jan-2014 to 14-Oct-2020. Independent pain specialists completed the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) for each included patient based on data extracted from patient's electronic medical record compiled by the treating pain specialist after each HCCP application. RESULTS: Patients (N=279; mean age: 59.2 years; previous history of PNP medication: 54.5%) received on average 4.1 repeated HCCP applications (1141 HCCP applications); 68.8% received HCCP as an add-on to systemic therapy and 27.9% as first-line therapy. PNP was most frequently caused by surgery (62.4%) followed by chemotherapy (11.8%) and radiotherapy (6.5%). A complete or important analgesic effect was reported at least once by 82.3% of patients. A 6.0% reported no effect at all. For post-surgical PNP existing for <12 months and >10 years an important or complete effect was observed for 70.7% and 56.0% of applications. For chemotherapy- or radiotherapy-induced PNP, this important or complete effect was observed for 52.7% and 52.3% of applications, respectively. HCCP application was associated with site reactions in 54.4% of patients (mainly burning sensation or pain, 45.9%, or erythema, 30.8%) and high blood pressure in 7.2%. CONCLUSION: This real-world chart review provides important effectiveness and safety information to clinicians when considering topical options to treat PNP in BCSs/BC patients.

First Evaluation Switching From Ropivacaine to Highly Concentrated Bupivacaine in Intrathecal Mixtures for Cancer Pain.

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal drug delivery is widely used for intractable cancer pain treatment. A combination of drugs with morphine and bupivacaine is recommended in first line therapy. In France, we use ropivacaine 10 mg/mL instead of bupivacaine 5 mg/mL, the only concentration available. Bupivacaine 40 mg/mL has been available in France only since July 2020 under temporary authorization of use. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy by pain assessment, to analyze drug dosage changes, to report adverse events (AEs) and conversion ratios switching from ropivacaine to bupivacaine. Secondary objective was to evaluate costs differences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted this retrospective follow-up monocentric study within the Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest (ICO) Pain Department in Angers, France. We included 14 patients aged 18 years and above, implanted with an Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems (IDDS) for cancer pain treatment and followed up at ICO from July 2020 to February 2021 after switching from ropivacaine to bupivacaine. We used a continuous infusion mode and Bolus could be added through Personal Therapy Manager (PTM). RESULTS: The median conversion ratio between ropivacaine and bupivacaine was 0.68 (0.65; 0.69) and resulted in no significant change in numeric rating scale evaluation (p = 0.10). We observed moderate and rapidly reversible AEs such as clinical hypotension (29%) and motor block after bolus (21%). The estimated median hospital cost per day was significantly lower (p = 0.05) for the bupivacaine refills than for the last ropivacaine pump refill, decreasing from US$ 61.7 (49.6; 70.5) to US$ 50.4 (45.9; 60.4). The median reimbursement per day from the National Health Insurance (NHI) was three times lower for bupivacaine pump refill when compared to the last ropivacaine pump refill (p < 0.01), decreasing from US$ 179.10 (156.79; 182.91) to US$ 64.59 (59.85; 71.89). CONCLUSION: Switching from ropivacaine to bupivacaine in IDDS appears more efficacious while remaining just as secure, and at lower cost.

Preventing Post Dural Puncture Headache after Intrathecal Drug Delivery System Implantation Through Preventive Fibrin Glue Application: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage resulting in post dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a frequent adverse effect observed after intrathecal drug delivery system (IDDS) implantation. CSF leakage symptoms negatively affect patient quality of life and can result in additional complications. Fibrin glue was used to treat CSF leakage syndrome. We developed a procedure to reduce the incidence of PDPH by preventing CSF leakage with the use of fibrin glue during surgery. OBJECTIVES: The main outcome criterion for this study was the incidence of PDPH syndrome after IDDS implantation with or without preventive fibrin glue application during the procedure. STUDY DESIGN: We designed a monocentric retrospective cohort study to compare the incidence of PDPH due to CSF leakage syndrome after lumbar puncture in patients with an implanted intrathecal pump, with or without preventive fibrin glue application during the procedure. SETTING: The study was held in the Anesthesiology and Pain department of the  Integrative Cancer Institute (ICO), Angers - France. METHODS: The study compared 2 patient cohorts over 2 successive periods. Fibrin glue was injected into the introducer needle puncture pathway after placement of the catheter immediately following needle removal. RESULTS: The no-glue group included 107 patients, whereas the glue group included 92 patients.Two application failures were observed (2.04%). Fibrin glue application results in a significant decrease in PDPH incidence, from 32.7% in the no-glue group to 10.92 % (P < 0.001) in the glue group. In regard to severity, in the no-glue group, 37.1% of PDPH syndromes were mild, 34.3% were moderate, and 28.6% were severe. In the fibrin glue group, 80% of PDPH syndromes were mild, and 20% were moderate. No severe PDPHs were reported after fibrin glue application. Duration of symptoms was also statistically shorter in the fibrin glue group (maximum of 3 days vs. 15 days in the no-glue group). In a univariate analysis, preventive fibrin glue application and age are significant to prevent PDPH. In multivariate analysis, only fibrin glue application was statistically significant (odds ratio, 0.26; P = 0.0008). No adverse effects linked to fibrin glue were observed. LIMITATIONS: The main limitation of this study is its retrospective nature. In addition, this study is from a single center with a potential selection bias and a center effect. CONCLUSIONS: The novel use of fibrin glue is promising in terms of its effect on PDPH and its safety profile. Its moderate cost and reproducibility make it an affordable and efficient technique.

Automated titration of propofol and remifentanil decreases the anesthesiologist's workload during vascular or thoracic surgery: a randomized prospective study.

Closed loop target-control infusion systems using a Bispectral (BIS) signal as an input (TCI Loop) can automatically maintain intravenous anesthesia in a BIS range of 40-60 %. Our purpose was to assess to what extent such a system could decrease anesthesia workload in comparison to the use of a stand alone TCI system manually adjusted to fit the same BIS range of 40-60 % (TCI Manual). Patients scheduled for elective vascular or thoracic surgery were randomized to the TCI Loop or TCI Manual method for administering propofol and remifentanil during both induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Assessment of workload was performed by an independent observer who quoted each time the physician looked at the BIS monitor. The number of propofol and remifentanil target modifications, the percentage of time of adequate anesthesia i.e. BIS in the range 40-60 and hemodynamic data were recorded. Eighteen patients per group were enrolled. Characteristics, duration of surgery and propofol-remifentanil consumption were similar between groups. However, the percentage of time in the BIS range 40-60 % was higher in the TCI Loop versus TCI Manual groups (94 % ± 12 vs. 74 % ± 19, p < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure was lower with TCI Manual (78 ± 6 vs. 88 ± 13 mmHg, p < 0.001). The number of times the anesthesiologist watched the controller or BIS monitor (p < 0.05) and the number of manual adjustments (p < 0.001) performed in each group was lower with TCI Loop group during induction and maintenance of anesthesia. An automated controller strikingly frees the anesthesiologist from manual intervention to adjust drug delivery.