Assessment of the Management of Patients with Chronic Pain Referred to a Specialized Pain Unit: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study (the DUO Project)

A multicenter cross-sectional study was designed to assess the quality of treatment of 1190 patients with chronic pain at the time of referral to a specialized pain unit. A total of 119 physicians from 77 pain units throughout Spain collected 23 indicators of the quality of care from 10 consecutive clinical records of chronic pain patients (5 men, 5 women). Degenerative spinal diseases (38.6%) and lumbosciatic pain (29.8%) were the most common etiologies. At the time of referral to the pain unit, 9.8% of patients were not receiving any analgesic treatment. Treatment was modified in 88.1% of the patients by adding adjuvant drugs, adding opioids or increasing the doses of analgesic medications, and using analgesic techniques. Women had higher percentages of osteoarthritis, headache and fibromyalgia as the cause of pain, longer duration of pain and severe pain intensity, and a higher proportion of changes in the diagnosis of the underlying condition with which they had been referred to the pain unit. Improvements should be made in the patient management and referral protocols not only in the clinics prior to patient referral to the pain unit, but also in the pain units themselves

Association between chronic pain medications and the severity and mortality of COVID-19: study protocol for a case-population study

In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, common drugs may exacerbate symptoms and negatively impact outcomes. However, the role of chronic medications on COVID-19 effects remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that certain chronic pain medications would influence outcomes in patients with COVID-19. The main aim is to assess the effect of these medications on the course of the disease in COVID-19 patients. Secondary aims are to compare disease severity and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 receiving chronic treatment with analgesics or other medications versus untreated patients and to determine prevalence of chronic pain medications in specific subgroups of hospitalized patients for COVID-19. Multicenter case-population study in 15 care centers for patients ≥18 years of age diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID-19. Controls will include patients treated at participating centers for chronic pain during the six-month period prior to March 15th, 2020. Each case will be age- and sex-matched to 10 controls. Patients will be grouped according to disease severity criteria. The primary outcome measures in patients admitted for COVID-19 will be: 1. statistical association between chronic pain medication and disease severity; 2. association between chronic pain treatment and survival. Secondary outcome measures include: 1. prevalence of chronic pain medications in patients with COVID-19 by age and sex; 2. prevalence of chronic pain medications in patients with COVID-19 vs controls. Patients and controls will be paired by age, sex, and geographic residence. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals will be calculated to determine the association between each drug and clinical status. Univariate and multivariate analyses will be performed. This is a study protocol. Data is actually being gathered and results are yet not achieved. There is no numerical data presented, so the conclusions cannot be considered solid at this point. Pain medications are likely to influence severity of COVID-19 and patient survival. Identifying those medications that are most closely associated with severe COVID-19 will provide clinicians with valuable data to guide treatment and reduce mortality rates and the long-term sequelae of the disease

Aspectos técnicos en la infiltración caudal guiada por tomografía computarizada

Introduction: Caudal epidural infiltration is currently one of the most used regional analgesia techniques for control of chronic low pack pain. Our primary objective in this presentation is to highlight a new technique for performing this intervention which is simpler and less aggressive for the patient than that classically used. Material and methods: This new technique has been used on 13 patients (2 males and 11 females) between 33 and 84 years. All patients had chronic lumbar pain. A General Electric Light Speed 16 CT scanner, a 22G lumbar puncture needle and appropriate sterile measures, were used to perform the technique. The CT scanner is a tool that makes it much easier to visualise the sacrococcygeal ligament. After the needle is introduced, and checked using CT, into the caudal spinal canal, the bevel is turned in the cranial direction in order that the medication administered comes out of the needle orifice towards the neural canal. Discussion: The most common technique for performing caudal epidural infiltration is usually done in the prone position with the head turned to one side using an X-ray arch. Using this technique we show that the puncture is less aggressive, quicker and with fewer possibilities of complications. The risk of perforating the dural sac is practically non-existent. There is also less risk of producing haematomas or infections, due to there being much less manipulation of the needle and only involves a direct puncture. In the 100% of cases on which our technique has been performed, the diffusion of the administered medication has been made in the cranial direction, which has been verified using contrast added to the pharmacological mixture.Introducción: La infiltración epidural caudal constituye en la actualidad una de las técnicas de analgesia regional que se utiliza con más frecuencia para el dolor crónico lumbar. Nuestro objetivo principal a alcanzar en esta exposición es poner de relieve una nueva técnica para realizar esta intervención que resulta más sencilla y menos agresiva para el paciente que la utilizada clásicamente. Material y métodos: Esta técnica se ha realizado en 13 pacientes (2 varones y 11 mujeres), con edades comprendidas entre los 33 y los 84 años. Todos los pacientes tenían dolor lumbar crónico. Para realizarla se ha utilizado un equipo de tomografía computarizada (TC) General Electric Light Speed 16, una aguja de punción lumbar de 22G y las medidas estériles adecuadas. La TC es una herramienta que facilita enormemente la visualización del ligamento sacrocoxígeo. Una vez introducida la aguja y comprobado mediante TC que se encuentre en el interior del canal raquídeo caudal, se procede a girar el bisel en dirección craneal con el objetivo de que el fármaco administrada salga por el orificio de la aguja hacia el canal neural. Discusión: La técnica más frecuente en la práctica de la infiltración epidural caudal se realiza habitualmente con el paciente en decúbito prono, con la cabeza girada sobre un lado utilizando un arco de rayos X. Mediante la técnica que mostramos, la punción es menos agresiva, más rápida y hay menos posibilidades de complicaciones. El riesgo de perforar el saco dural es prácticamente inexistente, así como de producir hematomas o infecciones, debido a que la manipulación con la aguja es mucho menor y se ciñe únicamente a una punción directa. En el 100% de los casos en que se ha practicado nuestra técnica, la difusión de la medicación administrada se ha realizado en dirección craneal, lo cual se ha verificado debido al contraste que se ha añadido a la mezcla farmacológica

Tratamiento mediante punción guiada por TC de un meningocele intrasacro oculto doloroso: Caso clínico y revisión de la literatura

Case reports: We report a 43-year old patient with a history of disabling pain sacrum 8/10 on the VAS of 8 months. No sensory disturbances were noted or loss of bowel control. Consultation conducted in multiple hospitals. She underwent a computed tomography (CT) lumbar that highlighted a hemangioma in L5, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis which showed muscle breakdown grade I of the left maximus gluteus, and a cystic lesion in the sacrum, which was interpreted as a Tarlov cyst. She received analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment with no improvement. She also goes through two facet blocks and even a lock in the left piriformis, all without results. In our center we practised a lumbosacral MRI which highlighted a cystic lesion localized in central and right lateral sacral spinal canal at the level of S2-S3 transition. It was high signal on T2 and low signal on T1. Discussion: According to Nabors classification, this lesion corresponds to a hidden intrasacro meningocele. The hidden intrasacro meningocele (extradural meningeal cyst type classification LB Nabors) is a rare entity that usually develops between the third and fourth decade of life, as an insidious clinical lower extremity pain, with or without radicular symptoms, bowel dysfunction and sensory disturbances. The usual treatment of these lesions is surgical intervention. In our case puncture and evacuation guided by CT of the sacral cyst was performed, yielding about 2 cc of a sero-hematic fluid. The postoperative course was a remarkable improvement, and the sacral pain happened to be 3/10 on the VAS. In the literature that we have reviewed, this is the first case in which a hidden painful intrasacro meningocele is evacuated by CT-guided puncture.Casos clínicos: Presentamos una paciente de 43 años con historia clínica de dolor sacro incapacitante 8/10 en la escala de EVA de 8 meses de evolución. No se apreciaban alteraciones sensitivas ni pérdida del control de esfínteres. Realizó consulta en múltiples hospitales. Se le practicaron una tomografía computadorizada (TC) lumbar que puso de relieve un hemangioma en L5, una resonancia magnética (RM) de pelvis en la que se evidenció rotura muscular grado I del glúteo mayor izquierdo y una lesión quística en el sacro que se interpretó como quiste de Tarlov. Recibió tratamiento analgésico y antiinflamatorio sin mejoría. Se le realizaron dos bloqueos facetarios e incluso un bloqueo del músculo piriforme izquierdo, todo ello sin resultados. En nuestro centro se practicó una RM lumbo-sacra que puso de relieve la lesión quística de localización central y lateral derecha en canal espinal sacro a la altura de la transición S2-S3. Era de alta señal en T2 y de baja señal en T1. Según la clasificación de Nabors correspondía a un meningocele intrasacro oculto. Discusión: El meningocele intrasacro oculto (quiste meníngeo extradural tipo lB de la clasificación de Nabors) es una entidad poco frecuente que se presenta generalmente entre la tercera y cuarta década de la vida, como un cuadro clínico insidioso de dolor en extremidades inferiores, con o sin síntomas radiculares, disfunción de esfínteres y alteraciones sensitivas. El tratamiento habitual de este tipo de lesiones es la intervención quirúrgica. En nuestro caso se realizó punción y evacuación del quiste sacro guiado por TC obteniéndose unos 2 cc de un líquido sero-hemático. La evolución posterior fue de mejoría notable del dolor sacro que paso a ser de 3/10 en la escala de EVA. En la revisión de la literatura que hemos efectuado este es el primer caso en que se trata un meningocele intrasacro oculto doloroso mediante punción evacuadora guiada por TC

Eficacia y tolerancia de la pregabalina en el tratamiento del dolor neuropático: Estudio multicéntrico

Aim and objective: This study was intended to avaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pregabalin in patients with neuropathic pain and concomitant medication. Material and methods: Investigator-initiated, prospective multicenter study, open-label, uncontrolled conducted in 10 pain units from Catalonia hospitals. Pregabalin was consecutively prescribed at the physicians' discretion to avoid selective bias. Inclusion criteria were: outpatient, age >18 years, admission diagnosis as "neuropathic pain" and informed consent. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy or cognitive disorders. Protocol scheduled five study visits: at baseline, 15 days, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months of treatment. Titration of pregabalin doses was pre-specified. We recorded: age, sex, type of neuropathic pain (pure or mixed), VAS (baseline, 15 days, 1 month, 2 and 3 months), MOS sleep scale (baseline and third month), concomitant drug treatment and adverse effects episodes. Patients were divided into three groups: pregabalin + NSAID + tricyclic antidepressants (NSAID+TCA), pregabalin + NSAID + anxiolytics (NSAID+ANX), pregabalin + NSAID + opioids (NSAID+OPI). A parametric Student's t test and non-parametric Wilcoxon test for paired data of quantitative variables were performed. Results: 578 patients were recruited and 472 (81.66%) completed the study. 98.8% of patients were treated with politherapy. Pain relief: mean reduction by -3.6 (± 1.9) (p < 0.0001) points. By type of pain: mixed pain -3.7 (± 1.7) (p < 0.0001); pure neuropathic pain -3.4 (± 2.2) (p < 0.0001). By adjuvant medication, the NSAID + TCA group -3.1 (± 1.9) (p = 0.0002); NSAID + ANX -3.4 (± 2.0) (p < 0.0001); NSAID + OPI -3.7 (± 1.9) (p < 0.0001). Sleep improvement: mean reduction by -1.9 (± 6.4) (p < 0.0001) points. By type of pain: mixed pain -3.1 (± 7.0) (p < 0.0001); pure neuropathic pain -1.1 (± 4.2) (p < 0.0001). By adjuvant medication, NSAID+OPI -2.1 (± 6.0) (p < 0.0001); NSAID + TCA and NSAID + ANX groups both -1.0 not statistically significant (p = 0.1250 and p = 0.4063 respectively). 90 patients (15.6%) discontinued the study due to adverse effects. Conclusions: Treatment with pregabalin induces a fast and significant relief of neuropathic pain, improves sleep and shows a low drug interaction profile.Introducción: Se pretendió evaluar la eficacia y tolerabilidad de la pregabalina, para el tratamiento del dolor neuropático en las Unidades de Dolor hospitalarias. Material y método: Estudio prospectivo, multicéntrico, abierto, que se llevó a cabo en 10 unidades del dolor de hospitales de Cataluña. Se prescribió pregabalina, a criterio del facultativo, de manera consecutiva. Criterios de inclusión: consentimiento, dolor neuropático, mayor de edad y paciente externo. Criterios de exclusión: alteraciones cognitivas, embarazo. Se estipularon 5 visitas: basal, 15 días, 1 mes, 2 y 3 meses de tratamiento. La titulación de las dosis de pregabalina estaba preespecificada. Se registró edad, sexo, tipo de dolor neuropático, EVA (basal, 15 días, 1 mes, 2 meses, 3 meses), escala MOS de sueño (basal y tercer mes), tratamiento farmacológico concomitante y episodios de efectos adversos. Se crearon 3 grupos de estudio: pregabalina + antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINE) + antidepresivos tricíclicos (AINE + ATC), pregabalina + AINE + ansiolíticos (AINE + ANS), pregabalina + AINE + opioides (AINE + OPI). Se efectuó prueba paramétrica t de Student y test no paramétrico de Wilcoxon para datos apareados de variables cuantitativas. Resultados: Se reclutaron 578 pacientes de los que 472 (81,66%) completaron el estudio. El 98,8% recibieron politerapia. El alivio del dolor registró una media de -3,6 (± 1,9) (p < 0,0001) puntos. Por tipo de dolor: mixto -3,7 (±1,7) (p < 0,0001); puro -3,4 (± 2,2) (p < 0,0001). Por medicación coadyuvante: grupo AINE + ATC -3,1 (± 1,9) (p = 0,0002); AINE + ANS -3,4 (± 2,0) (p < 0,0001); AINE + OPI -3,7 (± 1,9) (p < 0,0001). Mejora del sueño: media de -1,9 (± 6,4) (p < 0,0001) puntos. Por tipología: mixto -3,1 (± 7,0) (p < 0,0001); puro -1,1 (± 4,2) (p < 0,0001). Por medicación coadyuvante: grupo AINE + OPI -2,1 (± 6,0) (p < 0,0001); AINE + ATC y AINE + ANS ambos -1,0 no estadísticamente significativo, (p = 0,1250 y p = 0,4063 respectivamente). 90 pacientes (15,6%) discontinuaron el estudio debido a efectos adversos. Conclusiones: La pregabalina produjo una reducción rápida y significativa del dolor neuropático, una relevante mejoría del sueño, demostrando un perfil bajo de interacción y buena tolerancia

Resultados sobre la aplicación cráneo-facial del parche de capsaicina 8 % en una serie de 5 casos

The capsaicin 8 % patch is a secondary line alternative to neuropathic peripheral pain treatment. Although it has few secondary effects, is not indicated in head and facial treatment due to the possibility of the irritation of mucosa. We have only found three publications related with the patch application in those locations, describing 7 clinical cases. We have analyzed 4 cases in which we have applied 5 patches in total. There were 3 women (repeating the application in one of them) and 1 man, between 58 and 84 years old, with the following diagnosis: caustic necrosis in the inferior lip after dental cleaning, trigeminal neuralgia and post-herpetic neuropathy. Inefficacy of other treatments was confirmed, and after that, the capsaicin 8 % patch was proposed. Informed consent of the application of the patch at day clinic and treatment out of technical data sheet were previously signed. Before the patch was applied to the painful cutaneous area, we proceed with ocular protection of both eyes with surgical ophthalmic patch and oral and nasal mucosa protection with surgical mask hermetically seal. That protection was maintained during the whole application of the patch, and was removed once the capsaicin patch was taken off and the application area was cleaned. There were only 3 mild secondary effects of the total 5 applications: one patient showed erythematic skin that was resolved spontaneously, another patient related burn and pain sensation which was solved with endovenous analgesia. Finally, another patient explained mild pain well tolerated, that was resolved also spontaneously. In no cases there were secondary effects in mucosa. Related with the results, 2 patients felt improvement between one and two months, applying again the patch in one of them, not reaching this time relief in the pain. The other 2 patients did not notice any change. The capsaicin 8 % patch treatment in head and facial-areas seems to have similar efficacy as the application in other skin-areas. Secondary effects in these surfaces are very low, the same as in other corporal locations. We believe that with the adequate preventive measures in head and facial areas, clinical utility observed with capsaicin 8 % patch places it as another treatment option for neuropathic pain, with no complications added. However, clinical studies with a higher number of patients should carry on to confirm these findings.Los parches de capsaicina al 8 % son una alternativa de segunda línea para el tratamiento del dolor neuropático periférico. Aunque tiene pocos efectos secundarios, no tiene indicación para el tratamiento cráneo-facial debido a la posible irritación de mucosas por la capsaicina. Sólo hemos encontrado tres publicaciones que refieren la aplicación del parche en estas localizaciones, describiendo 7 casos clínicos. Hemos recogido 4 casos en los que se realizan 5 aplicaciones en total, 3 mujeres (repitiendo aplicación en una de ellas) y 1 hombre, entre 58 y 84 años, con los siguientes diagnósticos: necrosis cáustica en labio inferior tras limpieza dental, neuralgia del trigémino y neuropatía postherpética. Tras comprobar ineficacia de otros tratamientos, se propuso el parche de capsaicina al 8 %, con firma previa de los consentimientos informados de la aplicación de parche en régimen de hospital de día y de tratamiento fuera de ficha técnica. Previamente a la aplicación del parche en la zona cutánea dolorosa, se procedió a realizar protección ocular de ambos ojos con parche oftálmico quirúrgico, y de mucosas oral y nasal con mascarilla facial quirúrgica sellada. La protección se mantuvo durante toda la aplicación del parche y se quitó una vez retirado éste y limpiada la zona de aplicación. Únicamente se reportaron 3 efectos secundarios leves del total de las 5 aplicaciones: un paciente presentó piel eritematosa que cedió espontáneamente, otra paciente refirió sensación de quemazón y dolor que cedió con analgesia endovenosa, y otra paciente explicó dolor leve bien tolerado, que cedió de manera espontánea. En ninguno de los casos se apreciaron efectos secundarios a nivel de mucosas. En cuanto a resultados, dos pacientes notaron mejoría durante uno y dos meses, colocando nuevamente el parche en una de ellas, sin lograr esta segunda vez alivio. Las otras dos pacientes no notaron ningún cambio. El tratamiento con parches de capsaicina 8 % en superficies cráneo-faciales parece tener similar eficacia a su aplicación en otras áreas de la piel. Los efectos secundarios en su aplicación en estas superficies son escasos, al igual que en otras aplicaciones corporales. Creemos que con las medidas de precaución adecuadas en las regiones cráneo-faciales, la utilidad clínica observada del parche de capsaicina 8 % lo sitúa como otra opción de tratamiento para dolor neuropático, sin complicaciones añadidas. No obstante, estudios clínicos con mayor número de pacientes deberían llevarse a cabo para confirmar estos hallazgos