¿Es la Buprenorfina una buena opción en el manejo de dolor postoperatorio? / No disponible

Antecedentes: El dolor es uno de los eventos más temidos por los pacientes después de una cirugía, y en la actualidad el manejo del dolor es subóptimo. La falta de control del dolor agudo postoperatorio puede tener una serie de consecuencias que afectan a los aspectos físicos y emocionales de los pacientes. El manejo habitual del dolor postoperatorio se basa en la utilización de opioides, pilar de tratamiento desde hace muchos años. Sin embargo, el uso de opioides puede tener riesgos moderados, como son las náuseas y vómitos, mareos y constipación, o riesgos más severos que incluyen a la inmunosupresión y depresión respiratoria. Objetivo: Para poder determinar algunos de los factores circundantes del dolor postoperatorio, se realizó una reunión cumbre internacional en la que un grupo de líderes de opinión analizó las prácticas habituales de manejo de dolor postoperatorio. Uno de los temas abordados fue el rol de la buprenorfina en el manejo del dolor perioperatorio, y la información discutida se presenta a lo largo de este artículo. Conclusión: La buprenorfina ha demostrado ser eficaz y segura en muchos modelos de dolor postoperatorio. Su versatilidad de administración, sus efectos secundarios manejables y su posibilidad de ser combinada con otros analgésicos hacen que la buprenorfina sea exitosa en el manejo del dolor perioperatorio (AU)

Background: Pain is one of the most feared outcomes of surgery by patients, yet current practices of pain management are suboptimal. Failure to address acute postoperative pain can have a variety of consequences that affect physical and psychological aspects of the patient. Current perioperative pain management normally consists of opioid therapy, which has been a mainstay for many years. However, use of opioids can have moderate risks, including nausea/vomiting, dizziness, and constipation, or more severe risks, including respiratory depression and immunosupression. Aim: In order to address some of the issues surrounding perioperative pain management, a group of key opinion leaders gathered at an international summit to analyze the current practices of perioperative pain management. One of the topics focused on buprenorphine’s role in perioperative pain and the information discussed is presented throughout this article. Conclusion: Buprenorphine has been demonstrated to be effective and safe in many postoperative pain models. Its administration versatility, its manageable side effects, and its use in combination with other analgesics allow buprenorphine therapy to be successful in perioperative pain management (AU)

Breakthrough pain characteristics and syndromes in patients with cancer pain. An international survey.

Breakthrough pain (BKP) is a transitory flare of pain that occurs on a background of relatively well controlled baseline pain. Previous surveys have found that BKP is highly prevalent among patients with cancer pain and predicts more severe pain, pain-related distress and functional impairment, and relatively poor quality of life. An international group of investigators assembled by a task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of BKP as part of a prospective, cross-sectional survey of cancer pain. Fifty-eight clinicians in 24 countries evaluated a total of 1095 patients with cancer pain using patient-rated items from the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and observer-rated measures. The observer-rated information included demographic and tumor-related data, the occurrence of BKP, and responses on checklists of pain syndromes and pathophysiologies. The clinicians reported BKP in 64.8% of patients. Physicians from English-speaking countries were significantly more likely to report BKP than other physicians. BKP was associated with higher pain scores and functional interference on the BPI. Multivariate analysis showed an independent association of BKP with the presence of more than one pain, a vertebral pain syndrome, pain due to plexopathy, and English-speaking country. These data confirm the high prevalence of BKP, its association with more severe pain and functional impairment, and its relationship to specific cancer pain syndromes. Further studies are needed to characterize subtypes of BKP. The uneven distribution of BKP reporting across pain specialists from different countries suggests that more standardized methods for diagnosing BKP are needed.

Ascitis en los pacientes oncológicos. Fisiopatogenia y opciones de tratamiento / Ascites in cancer patients. Physiopathology and therapeutic options

La ascitis definida como la presencia de fluido en la cavidad peritoneal, es un hallazgo observado en diversas entidades patológicas, principalmente en enfermedades hepáticas y oncológicas. Los pacientes con cáncer desarrollan asicitis en un 15 a 50 por ciento. Los carcinomas de ovario, mama, endometrio, colon, estómago, páncreas y bronquios tienen una alta incidencia de ascitis. Su patogénesis involucra varios factores como son: elevación de la presión hidrostática, disminución de la presión coloido-osmótica, aumento en la permeabilidad capilar y escape de líquido a la cavidad peritoneal. El líquido de ascitis es analizado con fines diagnósticos (gradiente de albúmina sérica-ascítica, concentración de amilasa y triglicéridos; cuenta celular, cultivo y tinción de gram; pH, citología, determinación de glucosa y fibronectina) y terapéuticos; siendo de vital importancia la valoración clínica para el diagnóstico, apoyándonos en signos clásicos como son el abombamiento de los flancos, el signo de la ola, signo de efusión pleural, edema de miembros pélvicos, genitales, etc. Y en determinados casos será necesario el apoyo a través de estudios de gabinete para corroborar la presencia de líquido en cavidad abdominal. El tratamiento de esta entidad dependerá de su etiología. En pacientes no oncológicos la restricción de sal en la dieta y los esquemas de diuréticos dan buenos resultados. En pacientes oncológicos puede implementarse la quimioterapia intraperitoneal. Los casos refractarios o con escasa respuesta son candidatos a drenaje del líquido ascítico a través de múltiples técnicas como son la paracentesis clásica, paracentesis total, colocación de drenaje semi-permanente o permanente con o sin la ayuda de imagenología, cortocircuitos, etc., valorando previo procedimiento las condiciones globales del paciente para obtener un máximo beneficio con un mínimo riesgo. Se concluye que la ascitis de cualquier etiología comprende diversas alteraciones fisiopatológicas que han provocado la implementación de diversas modalidades de manejo tanto farmacológico como invasivas para el tratamiento eficaz de la misma (AU)

Neurolisis ganglionar para el tratamiento del dolor abdominopélvico / Ganglionic neurolysis for the management of abdominopelvic pain

El dolor pélvico crónico es una entidad médica poco reconocida, aunque para las pacientes el dolor pélvico no relacionado a trastornos menstruales puede ocasionar incapacidad y requerir largos tratamientos médicos o quirúrgicos. Este tipo de dolor suele acompañarse de hiperactividad simpática y trastornos psicológicos como anorexia, apatía, e insomnio. Este tipo de dolor podrá presentarse ante una etiología bien definida, pero en otros casos hay una ausencia de evidencias que expliquen la causa del dolor; existiendo una mezcla de componentes somático, simpático y neuropático. La mayoría de la inervación de las estructuras pélvicas ocurre a través del plexo hipogástrico superior. Como en otras situaciones el valor de los bloqueos neurales para el tratamiento del dolor crónico es poco reconocido. Las técnicas intervencionistas neurolíticas o neuroquirúrgicas deben ser consideradas como un complemento de las terapias farmacológicas. En este reporte se consideran los diferentes bloqueos intervencionistas como: bloqueo simpático lumbar, bloqueo del plexo hipogástrico superior, bloqueo del ganglio de Walther, bloqueo perimedular y terapia con opioides intraespinales y los bloqueos nerviosos periféricos. En la situación del dolor de origen no oncológico y oncológico estos procedimientos tienen valor diagnóstico, pronóstico y terapéutico (AU)

Regional anaesthesia and medical disease.

The present review addresses recent literature on advances in regional anaesthesia and medical diseases, and focuses on expert guidelines and decision-making processes. Attention is also given to risk-benefit ratios in the management of patients with chronic illnesses, difficulties in treatment of the elderly, and associated morbidity and mortality.

Complex regional pain syndrome type 2 (causalgia) after automated laser discectomy. A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: This report identifies a case of complex regional pain syndrome Type 2 (causalgia) with sympathetically maintained pain associated with automated laser discectomy. The syndrome's clinical features and its management with sympathectomy are described. OBJECTIVES: To report an unusual complication associated with automated laser discectomy, review the possible mechanism, and discuss the management of complex regional pain syndrome Type 2 with sympathetically maintained pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Automated laser discectomy represents a minimally invasive technique to treat herniated intervertebral discs. By using small, automated probes placed in the disc under local anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance, disc material can be removed percutaneously, eliminating the need for lumbar laminectomy with its attendant morbidity. Some complications have been reported. This case report presents a complication not previously described. METHODS: A 39-year-old woman underwent L4-L5 automated laser discectomy; an attempt was made to lase the L5-S1 disc, but the procedure was aborted because of severe pain and discomfort. The patient had pain in the left lower extremity in the L5 and S1 distribution, including the foot. There was evidence of allodynia and hyperesthesia with some dystrophic changes in the foot. A diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome Type 2 (causalgia) was made. RESULTS: A series of two diagnostic percutaneous chemical sympathectomies were undertaken, and the pain was relieved to a significant extent for up to 2 weeks. This suggested complex regional pain syndrome Type 2 with sympathetically maintained pain, and thereafter therapeutic chemical sympathectomy resulted in resolution of the pain syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Complex regional pain syndrome Type 2 with sympathetically maintained pain is a condition that can result in serious disability and can be associated with a number of spinal procedures, including automated laser percutaneous discectomy. Early intervention is recommended to provide long-term resolution of the condition.

Neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block for chronic pelvic pain associated with cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block has been shown to be safe and effective in selected cancer patients. A large cohort of patients was studied to evaluate the continued efficacy and safety of this block in cancer patients with advanced disease. METHODS: A total of 227 pelvic pain patients with gynecological, colorectal, or genitourinary cancer who experienced poor pain control due to either progression of disease or to untoward side effects were enrolled in this study during a 3-year period. All pain patients receiving oral opioids were eligible to participate. A bilateral percutaneous neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block with 10% phenol was performed 1 day after a successful diagnostic block with 0.25% bupivacaine. RESULTS: All patients reported a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score of 7-10/10 before the block. A positive response to a diagnostic block was obtained in 159 patients (79%). Overall, 115 patients of the 159 patients who responded to a diagnostic block (72%, 95% confidence interval of 65-79%) had satisfactory pain relief (VAS < 4/10), 99 (62%) after one block, and 16 (10%) after a second block. The remaining 44 patients (28%) had moderate pain control (VAS 4-7/10) after two blocks and received oral pharmacological therapy and epidural analgesic therapy with good results. Both groups experienced significant reductions in oral opioid therapy after the neurolytic blocks. No additional blocks were required by patients who had a good response during a follow-up period of 3 months. No complications related to the block were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block provided both effective pain relief and a significant reduction in opioid usage (43%) in 72% of the patients who received a neurolytic block. Overall, this represents 51% of the patients enrolled in the study. Poor results should be expected in patients with extensive retroperitoneal disease overlying the plexus because of inadequate spread of the neurolytic agent.

Superior hypogastric plexus block for pelvic cancer pain.

Blockade of the superior hypogastric nerve plexus was performed for relief of chronic cancer related pelvic pain. The targeted sympathetic nerves lie anterior to the sacral promontory. Twenty-eight patients with neoplastic involvement of pelvic viscera secondary to cervical, prostate, and testicular cancer or radiation injury were treated with neurolytic superior hypogastric plexus block. Sympathetically mediated pain was significantly reduced or eliminated in all cases and no serious complications occurred. Superior hypogastric plexus block is recommended for diagnostic/prognostic and therapeutic purposes in patients with chronic pelvic pain, particularly when pain is of neoplastic origin.