ABSTRACT
Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la prevalencia de dolor irruptivo (DI) en pacientes ambulatorios con dolor crónico de origen no oncológico y caracterizar la fisiopatología, localización, intensidad y frecuencia de los episodios de DI. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y no intervencionista realizado en 16 unidades de dolor ambulatorias de hospitales de Andalucía y Ceuta. Se preguntó a los pacientes consecutivos elegibles si experimentan DI definido como "una exacerbación transitoria del dolor que ocurre espontáneamente, o en relación con un desencadenante predecible o impredecible específico, a pesar del dolor de base estable y controlado". En cada día de la encuesta, los dos primeros pacientes que confirmaron DI fueron preguntados sobre las características clínicas de su PTP (etiología, inicio, intensidad, frecuencia y tratamiento). Resultados: Se realizó un cribaje a un total de 3209 pacientes con dolor crónico no oncológico para identificar a 1118 pacientes con DI, lo que representó una prevalencia del 36 %. Se obtuvieron las características del DI de 350 pacientes: la intensidad media fue de 8,3 (± 1,4) en una Escala Analógica Visual (EVA), con una media de 2 episodios/24 horas (rango 1-5/24 h). El mecanismo del dolor fue mixto en 149 (42,6 %), neuropático en 91 (26 %) y nociceptivo en 72 (20,6 %) de los pacientes. Se encontró correlación positiva entre una mayor intensidad de DI con el nivel de dolor basal (r = 0,243, p < 0,001), y el número de crisis diarias de DI (r = 0,123, p = 0,003), ambas estadísticamente significativas. El 78 % de los pacientes estaba en tratamiento con opioides. Los más frecuentes fueron el citrato de fentanilo (52,6 %) y el tramadol (17,4 %). Conclusiones: La tasa de prevalencia del DI en pacientes con dolor crónico no oncológico es superior a un tercio de los pacientes atendidos en las unidades ambulatorias de dolor hospitalario en España. El DI provoca niveles reducidos de funcionalidad, trastornos psicológicos y un aumento del gasto asistencial. La clave del tratamiento es la individualización
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of breakthrough pain (BTP) in ambulatory patients with non-cancer chronic pain in Spain and to characterize physiopathology, location, intensity and frequency of BTP episodes. Methods: Prospective, non-interventional, observational study conducted in 16 pain units of hospitals of Andalusia and Ceuta. Eligible consecutive patients were are asked if they experience BTP defined as "a transient exacerbation of pain that occurs either spontaneously, or in relation to a specific predictable or unpredictable trigger, despite stable and controlled background pain". At each survey day, the first two patients reporting BTP were further interrogated on the clinical characteristics of their BTP (etiology, onset, intensity, frequency and treatment). Results: A total of 3,209 patients with non-cancer chronic pain were screened to identify 1,118 patients with BTP, which represented a prevalence of 36 %. BTP characteristics were retrieved from 350 patients: mean BTP intensity was 8.3 (± 1.4) on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), with a mean of 2 episodes/24 hour (range 1-5/24 h). Pain mechanism was mixed in 149 (42.6 %), neuropathic in 91 (26 %) and nociceptive in 72 in (20.6 %) of patients. Significant correlation was found between BTP intensity and both higher background pain (r = 0.243, p < 0.001), and daily BTP episodes frequency (r = 0.123, p = 0.003). 78 % of the patients were on opioid treatment. The most frequent were fentanyl citrate (52.6 %) and tramadol (17.4 %). Conclusions: The prevalence rate of BTP in patients with chronic non-oncologic pain is higher than one-third of the patients seen in outpatient hospital pain units in Spain. BTP causes reduced levels of functionality, psychological disorders, and an increase in health care expenditure. Individualization is the key to treatment
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Young Adult , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Breakthrough Pain/epidemiology , Chronic Pain/complications , Pain Management/methods , Prospective Studies , Pain Measurement , Pain Clinics/statistics & numerical data , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Relief of postoperative pain and the incidence of side effects occurring after continuous epidural infusion of morphine and bupivacaine were evaluated in patients undergoing a thoracotomy. We also studied the relevance of a close proximity of the epidural catheter to the metameric segment were the pain originated. The study involves 17 patients divided into two groups. In one series (lumbar group) (LG) the catheter was located at the lumbar region and in the other series (thoracic group) (TG) the catheter was localized at the thoracic area. The study was carried out during the first 48 hours following surgery. Bupivacaine 2% and 0.2 mg/ml of morphine hydrochloride were administered at an initial rate of 1.5 ml/h. The total dose required for pain relief was greater in LG than in TG (p less than 0.05). There were no significant group differences in the hemodynamic and respiratory parameters measured in this study. Only respiratory rate was occasionally lower in LG. Three patients presented postoperative atelectasis (2 in TG and 1 in LG) and required bronchoscopy. One patient of LG complained pruritus and another one of the same group presented nausea and vomiting. The epidural perfusion was interrupted in only one patient of TG due to the presence of arterial hypotension. The association of narcotics and local anesthetics in continuous epidural perfusion was an excellent method for achieving pain relief with minimum side effects. We conclude that both thoracic and lumbar epidural routes are advisable for post-thoracotomy pain relief.
