Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-12-26eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001118
Felicitas A Huber, Rachel Carpenter, Burel R Goodin, Stephen Bruehl, Cynthia Karlson, Uma Rao, Kerry Kinney, Subodh Nag, Matthew C Morris
{"title":"Physical activity, sitting time, and thermal quantitative sensory testing responses in African Americans.","authors":"Felicitas A Huber, Rachel Carpenter, Burel R Goodin, Stephen Bruehl, Cynthia Karlson, Uma Rao, Kerry Kinney, Subodh Nag, Matthew C Morris","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001118","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Prior research suggests that African Americans (AAs) have more frequent, intense, and debilitating pain and functional disability compared with non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Potential contributing factors to this disparity are physical activity and sedentary behavior, given that AAs are less physically active, and physical activity is associated with antinociception (whereas sedentary behavior is linked to pronociception). However, impact of these factors on pain processing has largely been unexplored in AAs, especially before chronic pain onset.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examined relationships between physical activity, sedentary behavior (sitting time), and laboratory measures of pain and pain modulation in adult AAs. These included heat pain threshold and tolerance, temporal summation of pain (TSP, a marker of central sensitization), and conditioned pain modulation (CPM, a marker of descending pain inhibition).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Multiple regressions were conducted to examine the effects of physical activity and sitting time on heat threshold and tolerance. Multilevel models were conducted to assess the relationship between physical activity, sitting time, and temporal summation of pain. Additional multilevel models were conducted to assess the relationship between physical activity, sitting time, and conditioned pain modulation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher level of physical activity, but not sitting time, was associated with reduced TSP slopes. Neither physical activity nor sitting time was associated with CPM slopes. No significant relationships between physical activity or sitting time and heat pain threshold or tolerance were detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that physical activity is associated with reduced TSP, an effect which may be driven by reduced spinal hyperexcitability in more active individuals. Thus, structural and individual interventions designed to increase physical activity in healthy, young AAs may be able to promote antinociceptive processes (ie, reduced TSP/reduced pain facilitation) potentially protective against chronic pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1118"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10752487/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139049768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-12-19eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001117
Curtis Ostertag, Timothy N Friedman, Michael B Keough, Bradley J Kerr, Tejas Sankar
{"title":"Heightened presence of inflammatory mediators in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with trigeminal neuralgia.","authors":"Curtis Ostertag, Timothy N Friedman, Michael B Keough, Bradley J Kerr, Tejas Sankar","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic, debilitating facial pain disease causing stabbing pain attacks in the sensory distribution of the trigeminal nerve. The underlying pathophysiology of TN is incompletely understood, although microstructural abnormalities consistent with focal demyelination of the trigeminal nerve root have been shown in patients with TN. Studies of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with TN suggest an increased prevalence of inflammatory mediators, potentially implicating neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of TN, as it has been implicated in other chronic pain conditions.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to further assess the inflammatory profile of CSF in TN.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cerebrospinal fluid was collected from 8 medically refractory patients with TN undergoing microvascular decompression surgery and 4 pain-free controls (2 with hemifacial spasm; 2 with normal pressure hydrocephalus). Cerebrospinal fluid was collected from the cerebellopontine angle cistern intraoperatively in the patients with TN. Inflammatory profiles of CSF samples were analyzed using a 71-plex cytokine and chemokine multiplex assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten inflammatory markers were found to be significantly higher in TN CSF, and no analytes were significantly lower. Elevated factors can be classified into pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-9, IL-18, and IL-33), chemokines (RANTES and ENA-78), the tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TRAIL and sCD40L), and growth factors (EGF, PDGF-AB/BB, and FGF-2).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study further supports the notion that neuroinflammation is present in TN, and that multiple molecular pathways are implicated.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1117"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10732488/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138832884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-12-14eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001115
Georgios Baskozos
{"title":"Introduction to a special issue on big data and pain.","authors":"Georgios Baskozos","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001115","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This special issue comprised 7 articles from leaders in the field that focus on \"big pain data\", the large datasets and the associated methods for data analysis that are currently emerging in pain research. This collection of articles highlights the power and potential as well as points of caution that multi-disciplinary research utilising big data and their associated methods and interpretations present for pain research.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1115"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10723869/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138811243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A systematic review of the biopsychosocial dimensions affected by chronic pain in children and adolescents: identifying reliable and valid pediatric multidimensional chronic pain assessment tools.","authors":"Megan J Greenough, Lindsay Jibb, Krystina B Lewis, Tracey Bucknall, Christine Lamontagne, Melissa Demery Varin, Ashley Sokalski, Janet Elaine Squires","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001099","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pediatric chronic pain is a complex experience that is often challenging to describe and measure. Multidimensional tools that evaluate the biopsychosocial impact of chronic pain in pediatric patients can help clinicians to prioritize and tailor interdisciplinary pain care; yet, the psychometric value and clinical utility of such tools has not yet been systematically studied in the literature. The purpose of this review was to identify multidimensional biopsychosocial tools used in pediatric chronic pain, synthesize their reliability and validity evidence, and draw on this evidence to describe the relationships between chronic pain and biopsychosocial domains. The search involved 2 phases to (1) identify eligible tools and (2) conduct a measured forward citation search of tool development articles. Tool eligibility was guided by the <i>Multidimensional Biobehavioral Model of Pediatric Pain</i> and study eligibility was focused on primary chronic pain diagnoses unrelated to disease. Data extraction was focused on reliability and validity evidence of eligible tools, guided by the <i>Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing</i>. Results yielded 6 tools that included 64 eligible studies, highlighting 84 significant relationships between pain and functional interference across 11 biopsychosocial variables. All tools were shown to have good internal consistency and evidence of validity, primarily through relationships to other variables. Of the 6 tools, the most brief and easy to use were the most under studied. Further psychometric research is warranted for these tools to investigate their clinical utility and psychometric properties in guiding and prioritizing pain care for children and adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1099"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10686605/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-11-28eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001109
Courtney W Hess, Amanda R Van Orden, Giulia Mesaroli, Jennifer N Stinson, David Borsook, Laura E Simons
{"title":"Application of PainDETECT in pediatric chronic pain: how well does it identify neuropathic pain and its characteristics?","authors":"Courtney W Hess, Amanda R Van Orden, Giulia Mesaroli, Jennifer N Stinson, David Borsook, Laura E Simons","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001109","DOIUrl":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Neuropathic pain (NP) arises from nerve damage or disease, and when not defined, it can impair function and quality of life. Early detection allows for interventions that can enhance outcomes. Diagnosis of NP can be difficult if not properly evaluated. PainDETECT is a NP screening tool developed and successfully used in adults.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We evaluated the validity of painDETECT in a pediatric population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adolescents and young adults (10-19 years old) completed painDETECT and quantitative sensory testing (QST), which assessed mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia, common symptoms of NP. Pain diagnoses, including neuropathic pain (n = 10), were collected through documentation in the medical chart. Descriptive statistics were used to examine age, gender, pain diagnoses, and painDETECT scores. Kruskal-Wallis H tests were conducted to examine differences in QST results across painDETECT categorizations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Youth with chronic pain (N = 110, M<sub>age</sub> = 15.08 ± 2.4 years, N<sub>female</sub> = 88) and peers without pain (N = 55, M<sub>age</sub> = 15.84 ± 3.9 years, N<sub>female</sub> = 39) completed the painDETECT. The painDETECT scores for youth with pain (M = 12.7 ± 6.76) were significantly higher than those for peers without pain (M = 2.05 ± 2.41). PainDETECT demonstrated 80% sensitivity and 33% specificity in a pediatric population. Individuals who screened positively on the PainDETECT had significantly higher mechanical allodynia (M = 0.640 ± 0.994) compared with those who screened negatively (M = 0.186 ± 0.499; <i>P</i> = 0.016).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PainDETECT demonstrated the ability to screen for NP, and QST mechanical allodynia results were consistent with a positive NP screen. Results of the study offer preliminary support for the ongoing assessment of the painDETECT as a brief, inexpensive, and simple-to-use screening tool for pediatric patients with primary pain complaints.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1109"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10686590/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-11-15eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001107
Terje Kirketeig, Emma Söreskog, Trolle Jacobson, Rolf Karlsten, Niklas Zethraeus, Fredrik Borgström
{"title":"Real-world outcomes in spinal cord stimulation: predictors of reported effect and explantation using a comprehensive registry-based approach.","authors":"Terje Kirketeig, Emma Söreskog, Trolle Jacobson, Rolf Karlsten, Niklas Zethraeus, Fredrik Borgström","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Despite advancements in implanted hardware and development of novel stimulation paradigms in Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), real world evidence suggests a large variation in patient reported outcomes and a proportion of patients are later explanted due to loss of analgesia. Possible predictors for outcome have been explored in smaller short-term evaluations, but few clinically applicable robust measures for long term outcome have emerged.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a comprehensive retrospective study based on an assembled patient-level aggregated database from multiple local and national registries in Sweden. Variables associated with risk of explantation (due to insufficient analgesia) and analgesic effect was analyzed using a Cox regression analysis and an ordered logit regression model, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found the accumulated risk of explantation due to loss of analgesia to be 10% and 21% at two and ten years follow up, respectively. The use of 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation (compared with Tonic waveform; p = 0.003), and being 60 years or older (reference 18-40 years; p = 0.003) were associated with an increased risk of explantation.At a mean follow up at 1 year, 48% of patients reported a pain intensity reduction from baseline of at least 30%. Secondary (p = 0.030) and post-secondary (p = 0.001) education (compared with primary education) was associated with an increased probability of successful patient reported outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests that a higher educational level and being employed are associated with successful treatment outcome in patients with chronic pain treated with SCS in Sweden.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1107"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10653578/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-11-15eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001110
Iara De Schoenmacker, Laura Sirucek, Paulina S Scheuren, Robin Lütolf, Lindsay M Gorrell, Florian Brunner, Armin Curt, Jan Rosner, Petra Schweinhardt, Michèle Hubli
{"title":"Sensory phenotypes in complex regional pain syndrome and chronic low back pain-indication of common underlying pathomechanisms.","authors":"Iara De Schoenmacker, Laura Sirucek, Paulina S Scheuren, Robin Lütolf, Lindsay M Gorrell, Florian Brunner, Armin Curt, Jan Rosner, Petra Schweinhardt, Michèle Hubli","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>First-line pain treatment is unsatisfactory in more than 50% of chronic pain patients, likely because of the heterogeneity of mechanisms underlying pain chronification.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This cross-sectional study aimed to better understand pathomechanisms across different chronic pain cohorts, regardless of their diagnoses, by identifying distinct sensory phenotypes through a cluster analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We recruited 81 chronic pain patients and 63 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). Two distinct chronic pain cohorts were recruited, ie, complex regional pain syndrome (N = 20) and low back pain (N = 61). Quantitative sensory testing (QST) was performed in the most painful body area to investigate somatosensory changes related to clinical pain. Furthermore, QST was conducted in a pain-free area to identify remote sensory alterations, indicating more widespread changes in somatosensory processing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two clusters were identified based on the QST measures in the painful area, which did not represent the 2 distinct pain diagnoses but contained patients from both cohorts. Cluster 1 showed increased pain sensitivities in the painful and control area, indicating central sensitization as a potential pathomechanism. Cluster 2 showed a similar sensory profile as HC in both tested areas. Hence, either QST was not sensitive enough and more objective measures are needed to detect sensitization within the nociceptive neuraxis or cluster 2 may not have pain primarily because of sensitization, but other factors such as psychosocial ones are involved.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings support the notion of shared pathomechanisms irrespective of the pain diagnosis. Conversely, different mechanisms might contribute to the pain of patients with the same diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1110"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10653599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-11-15eCollection Date: 2023-12-01DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001111
Lone Knudsen, Lana Santoro, Stephen Bruehl, Norman Harden, Florian Brunner
{"title":"Subtypes of complex regional pain syndrome-a systematic review of the literature.","authors":"Lone Knudsen, Lana Santoro, Stephen Bruehl, Norman Harden, Florian Brunner","doi":"10.1097/PR9.0000000000001111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000001111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To systematically identify and summarize possible subtypes of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science for original studies reporting or investigating at least one subtype within a group of patients with CRPS. The search retrieved 4239 potentially relevant references. Twenty-five studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Complex regional pain syndrome phenotypes were investigated based on the following variables: clinical presentation/sensory disturbances, dystonia, skin temperature, disease duration, onset type, CRPS outcome, and neuropsychological test performance. Support was found for the following CRPS subtypes: CRPS type I, CRPS type II, acute CRPS, chronic CRPS, centralized CRPS, cold CRPS, warm CRPS, inflammatory CRPS, dystonic CRPS, nondystonic CRPS, familial CRPS, and nonfamilial CRPS. It is unclear whether these are distinct or overlapping subtypes. The results of this comprehensive review can facilitate the formulation of well-defined CRPS subtypes based on presumed underlying mechanisms. Our findings provide a foundation for establishing and defining clinically meaningful CRPS subtypes, with the ultimate goal of developing targeted and enhanced treatments for CRPS.</p>","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"8 6","pages":"e1111"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10653603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138464297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-11-07DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001112
Geert Crombez, Elke Veirman, Dimitri Van Ryckeghem, Whitney Scott, Annick De Paepe
{"title":"The effect of psychological factors on pain outcomes: lessons learned for the next generation of research","authors":"Geert Crombez, Elke Veirman, Dimitri Van Ryckeghem, Whitney Scott, Annick De Paepe","doi":"10.1097/pr9.0000000000001112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/pr9.0000000000001112","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Big data and machine learning techniques offer opportunities to investigate the effects of psychological factors on pain outcomes. Nevertheless, these advances can only deliver when the quality of the data is high and the underpinning causal assumptions are considered. We argue that there is room for improvement and identify some challenges in the evidence base concerning the effect of psychological factors on the development and maintenance of chronic pain. As a starting point, 3 basic tenets of causality are taken: (1) cause and effect differ from each other, (2) the cause precedes the effect within reasonable time, and (3) alternative explanations are ruled out. Building on these tenets, potential problems and some lessons learned are provided that the next generation of research should take into account. In particular, there is a need to be more explicit and transparent about causal assumptions in research. This will lead to better research designs, more appropriate statistical analyses, and constructive discussions and productive tensions that improve our science.","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"109 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135539895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pain ReportsPub Date : 2023-11-07DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001106
Ehab Hanafy Shaker, Mamdouh Mahmoud Elshal, Reham Mohamed Gamal, Norma Osama Abdallah Zayed, Samuel Fayez Samy, Raafat M. Reyad, Mohammed H. Shaaban, Abd Alrahman M. Abd Alrahman, Ahmed Salah Abdelgalil
{"title":"Ultrasound-guided continuous erector spinae plane block vs continuous thoracic epidural analgesia for the management of acute and chronic postthoracotomy pain: a randomized, controlled,double-blind trial","authors":"Ehab Hanafy Shaker, Mamdouh Mahmoud Elshal, Reham Mohamed Gamal, Norma Osama Abdallah Zayed, Samuel Fayez Samy, Raafat M. Reyad, Mohammed H. Shaaban, Abd Alrahman M. Abd Alrahman, Ahmed Salah Abdelgalil","doi":"10.1097/pr9.0000000000001106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/pr9.0000000000001106","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Introduction: Postthoracotomy pain (PTP) is a severe pain complicating thoracic surgeries and its good management decreases the risk of PTP syndrome (PTPS). Objectives: This randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided continuous erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with or without dexmedetomidine compared with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) in managing acute postoperative pain and the possible emergence of PTPS. Methods: Ninety patients with chest malignancies planned for thoracotomy were randomly allocated into 3 equal groups. Group 1: TEA (20 mL of levobupivacaine 0.25% bolus, then 0.1 mL/kg/h of levobupivacaine 0.1%), group 2: ESPB (20 mL of levobupivacaine only 0.1% bolus every 6 hours), and group 3: ESPB (20 mL of levobupivacaine 0.25% and 0.5 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine Hcl bolus every 6 hours). Results: Resting and dynamic visual analog scales were higher in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3 at 6, 24, and 36 hours and at 8 and 12 weeks. Postthoracotomy pain syndrome incidence was higher in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3 at 8 and 12 weeks, whereas it was indifferent between groups 1 and 3. The grading system for neuropathic pain score was higher in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3 at 8 and 12 weeks, whereas it was indifferent between groups 1 and 3. Itching, pruritis, and urine retention were higher in group 1 than in ESPB groups. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided ESPB with dexmedetomidine is as potent as TEA in relieving acute PTP and reducing the possible emergence of chronic PTPS. However, the 2 techniques were superior to ESPB without dexmedetomidine. Erector spinae plane block has fewer side effects compared with TEA.","PeriodicalId":52189,"journal":{"name":"Pain Reports","volume":"25 2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135475005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}