Pain managements in pancreatic cancer patient with opioid-induced hyperalgesia: A case report

Opioids are generally used to treat severe cancer pain. Usually, it is common to increase the dose of opioids to maintain analgesia. Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is a paradoxical response to opioid resulting in increased perception of pain rather than antinociceptive effect. A 64-year-old female with pancreatic cancer was suffering from whole abdominal pain. She took massive opioid therapy, however, her pain had been worse and widen in the 3 months. Radiologic imaging was performed to exclude metastatic cancer. The result was negative. We suspected OIH, and reduced the amount of opioids, then, added to adjuvant analgesics. And also we performed celiac plexus neurolysis with the use of alcohol and continuous epidural catheter insertion. Her numeric rating pain scale (NRS) decreased from 9/10 to 3/10. This case suggests that adjuvant analgesics and interventional treatments can resolve a OIH patient with intractable cancer pain.

Blood coagulation changes in laparoscopic gastrectomy: morbid obese vs normal patients

BACKGROUND: Patients with morbid obesity have higher risk of fatal thromboembolic episodes than non-obese patients. We aimed to identify perioperative changes in blood coagulation for the patients undergoing bariatric surgery and compare thromboelastography (TEG) findings with non-obese patients. METHODS: 24 patients with morbid obesity (group B) and 22 patients with stomach cancer (group S) who undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery were prospectively studied. Laboratory coagulation-related tests and TEG were conducted immediately after anesthetic induction (T0), at 2 hours after surgical incision (T1), and 2 hours after the end of surgery (T2). RESULTS: Group B had higher serum lactate, fibrinogen, maximum amplitude in TEG findings, and shorter activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) than group S at T0 (P < 0.05). In group B, serum fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) at T2 and base deficit at T1 and T2 were higher, and aPTT was shorter than those at T0 (P < 0.05). R-time and k-time showed gradual shortening toward T2. alpha-angle at T1 and coagulation index at T2 increased significantly from those at T0 in the group B (P < 0.05). However, group B failed to show any significant differences from the group S in TEG and coagulation-related laboratory findings except platelet count and serum fibrinogen level at T1 and T2. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperatively, morbidly obese patients had more activated coagulation profiles than non-obese patients. However, remarkable perioperative changes in TEG findings could not be definitely observed between two groups.

The Efficacy of MRI in Tibial Plateau Fractures

PURPOSE: To analysis the efficacy of MRI in assessing fracture configuration and frequency of associated soft tissue injuries in tibial plateau fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the plain films and MRI of 47 cases with tibial plateau fractures,every fracture was classified by findings on plain film and MRI respectively according to the Schatzker system and they were compared with each other. The degree of displacement and depression of the fracture fragments were measured on plain film and MRI. RESULTS: MRI was more accurate in determining the classification of the fracture and measuring the displacement and depression of fragments. Fracture classifications were changed in 12 cases. Especially in Schatzker VI cases, articular step off over 2 mm and articular fragments over 2X2 cm were revealed in detail by MRI. Evidence of internal derangement of the knee was found in 38 (80.8%) cases. CONCLUSION: Most of the cases with acute tibial plateau fracture were commonly associated with ligamentous and meniscal injuries. MRI can aid in accurate evaluation of tibial plateau fracture patterns and decision of treatment plan.