Orofacial Migraine and Other Idiopathic Non-Dental Facial Pain Syndromes: A Clinical Survey of a Social Orofacial Patient Group.

Background: Orofacial pain syndromes (OFPs) are a heterogeneous group of syndromes mainly characterized by painful attacks localized in facial and oral structures. According to the International Classification of Orofacial Pain (ICOP), the last three groups (non-dental facial pain, NDFP) are cranial neuralgias, facial pain syndromes resembling primary headache syndromes, and idiopathic orofacial pain. These are often clinical challenges because the symptoms may be similar or common among different disorders. The diagnostic efforts often induce a complex diagnostic algorithm and lead to several imaging studies or specialized tests, which are not always necessary. The aim of this study was to describe the encountered difficulties by these patients during the diagnostic-therapeutic course. Methods: This study was based on the responses to a survey questionnaire, administered to an Italian Facebook Orofacial Patient Group, searching for pain characteristics and diagnostic-therapeutic care courses. The questionnaire was filled out by patients affected by orofacial pain, who were 18 years and older, using a free online tool available on tablets, smartphones, and computers. Results: The sample was composed of 320 subjects (244F/76M), subdivided by age range (18-35 ys: 17.2%; 36-55 ys: 55.0%; >55 ys 27.8%). Most of the patients were affected by OFP for more than 3 years The sample presented one OFP diagnosis in 60% of cases, more than one in 36.2% of cases, and 3.8% not classified. Trigeminal neuralgia is more represented, followed by cluster headaches and migraines. About 70% had no pain remission, showing persisting background pain (VAS median = 7); autonomic cranial signs during a pain attack ranged between 45 and 65%. About 70% of the subjects consulted at least two different specialists. Almost all received drug treatment, about 25% received four to nine drug treatments, 40% remained unsatisfied, and almost 50% received no pharmacological treatment, together with drug therapy. Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study on an OFP population not selected by a third-level specialized center. The authors believe this represents a realistic perspective of what orofacial pain subjects suffer during their diagnostic-therapeutic course and the medical approach often results in unsatisfactory outcomes.

Prevalence of burnout among intensive care physicians: a systematic review. / Prevalência de burnout entre médicos atuantes em terapia intensiva: uma revisão sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review to summarize the knowledge regarding the prevalence of burnout among intensive care unit physicians. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE and PubMed® databases (last update 04.02.2019) with the goal of summarizing the evidence on burnout among intensive care unit physicians. We included all studies reporting burnout in intensive care unit personnel according to the Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire and then screened studies for data on burnout among intensive care unit physician specifically. RESULTS: We found 31 studies describing burnout in intensive care unit staff and including different healthcare profiles. Among these, 5 studies focused on physicians only, and 12 others investigated burnout in mixed intensive care unit personnel but provided separate data on physicians. The prevalence of burnout varied greatly across studies (range 18% - 49%), but several methodological discrepancies, among them cut-off criteria for defining burnout and variability in the Likert scale, precluded a meaningful pooled analysis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of burnout syndrome among intensive care unit physicians is relatively high, but significant methodological heterogeneities warrant caution being used in interpreting our results. The lower reported levels of burnout seem higher than those found in studies investigating mixed intensive care unit personnel. There is an urgent need for consensus recommending a consistent use of the Maslach Burnout Inventory test to screen burnout, in order to provide precise figures on burnout in intensive care unit physicians.

OBJETIVO: Realizar uma revisão sistemática para sumarizar o conhecimento relativo à prevalência de burnout entre médicos atuantes na unidade de terapia intensiva. MÉTODOS: Conduzimos uma revisão sistemática nas bases de dados MEDLINE e PubMed® (última atualização em 4 de fevereiro de 2019), com o objetivo de resumir a evidência a respeito de burnout entre médicos atuantes em unidades de terapia intensiva. Incluímos todos os estudos que relatavam burnout em trabalhadores na unidade de terapia intensiva, segundo o Inventário de Burnout de Maslach e, a seguir, triamos os estudos quanto a dados relativos a burnout especificamente em médicos atuantes na unidade de terapia intensiva. RESULTADOS: Encontramos 31 estudos que descreviam burnout em membros da equipe da unidade de terapia intensiva e incluíam diferentes perfis de profissionais de saúde. Dentre estes, cinco estudos se focalizavam apenas em médicos, e 12 outros investigavam burnout em uma mescla de profissionais atuantes na unidade de terapia intensiva, mas forneciam dados à parte relativos aos médicos. A prevalência de burnout teve grande variação entre os estudos (variando entre 18% e 49%), porém diversas discrepâncias metodológicas, dentre elas os critérios de corte para definição de burnout e variabilidade da escala de Likert, impediram uma análise agrupada significativa. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência da síndrome de burnout entre médicos atuantes na unidade de terapia intensiva é relativamente alta, porém heterogeneidades metodológicas significantes exigem precauções na interpretação de nossos resultados. Os níveis mais baixos de burnout relatados parecem mais elevados do que os identificados em estudos que investigaram uma mescla de profissionais da unidade de terapia intensiva. Há uma necessidade urgente de consenso que recomende o uso consistente do Inventário de Burnout de Maslach para triar a presença de burnout a fim de fornecer dados precisos a respeito de burnout entre médicos atuantes na unidade de terapia intensiva.

Perioperative Goal-Directed Therapy during Kidney Transplantation: An Impact Evaluation on the Major Postoperative Complications.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation is considered the first-choice therapy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Despite recent improvements in terms of outcomes and graft survival in recipients, postoperative complications still concern the health-care providers involved in the management of those patients. Particularly challenging are cardiovascular complications. Perioperative goal-directed fluid-therapy (PGDT) and hemodynamic optimization are widely used in high-risk surgical patients and are associated with a significant reduction in postoperative complication rates and length of stay (LOS). The aim of this work is to compare the effects of perioperative goal-directed therapy (PGDT) with conventional fluid therapy (CFT) and to determine whether there are any differences in major postoperative complications rates and delayed graft function (DGF) outcomes. METHODS: Prospective study with historical controls. Two groups, a PGDT and a CFT group, were used: The stroke volume (SV) optimization protocol was applied for the PGDT group throughout the procedure. Conventional fluid therapy with fluids titration at a central venous pressure (CVP) of 8⁻12 mmHg and mean arterial pressure (MAP) >80 mmHg was applied to the control group. Postoperative data collection including vital signs, weight, urinary output, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, serum potassium, and assessment of volemic status and the signs and symptoms of major postoperative complications occurred at 24 h, 72 h, 7 days, and 30 days after transplantation. RESULTS: Among the 66 patients enrolled (33 for each group) similar physical characteristics were proved. Good functional recovery was evident in 92% of the CFT group, 98% of the PGDT group, and 94% of total patients. The statistical analysis showed a difference in postoperative complications as follows: Significant reduction of cardiovascular complications and DGF episodes (p < 0.05), and surgical complications (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in pulmonary or other complications. CONCLUSIONS: PGDT and SV optimization effectively influenced the rate of major postoperative complications, reducing the overall morbidity and thus the mortality in patients receiving kidney transplantation.