No abstract

The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was to evaluate the effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) in comparison with conventional radiofrequency (CRF) in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. A total of 40 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia were included. The 20 patients in each group were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Each patient in the Group 1 was treated with CRF, whereas each patient in the Group 2 was treated by PRF. Evaluation parameters were: pain intensity using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), patient satisfaction using a Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS), additional pharmacological treatment, side effects, and complications related to the technique. The VAS scores decreased significantly (p<0.001) and PSS improved significantly after the procedure in Group 1. The VAS score decreased in only 2 of 20 patients from the PRF group (Group 2) and pain recurrence occurred 3 months after the procedure. At the end of 3 months, we decided to perform CRF in Group 2, because all patients in this group still had intractable pain. After the CRF treatment, the median VAS score decreased (p<0.001) and PSS improved (p<0.001) significantly. In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that unlike CRF, PRF is not an effective method of pain treatment for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

Preoperatively initiated thoracic epidural analgesia has the most satisfying results in controlling postthoracotomy pain in the acute and long-term period, and it is associated with a decreased incidence (and intensity) of chronic pain compared with postoperative (epidural or IV) analgesia. Chronic pain has an incidence of 62%.

Venlafaxine was more effective than placebo and is safe and well tolerated as migraine prophylaxis.

Safe and efficient use of spinal drugs requires neurotoxicologic animal studies before ethical application. We have evaluated the neurotoxicologic interruptions of intrathecal administration of midazolam in rabbits. Eighteen white New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups consisting of six rabbits each. In conscious animals, 0.3 ml 0.9% normal saline solution, 0.3 ml 0.1% midazolam (Roche, Dormicum) or 0.3 ml preservative free midazolam were intrathecally administered. Light and fluorescence microscopy evaluations were performed on transverse spinal cord sections by a neurohistopathologist in a blind fashion. Midazolam and preservative free midazolam treated rabbits showed significant histologic changes in light and fluorescence microscopy. The histologic and vascular lesions with the use of midazolam and preservative free midazolam suggested neurotoxic effects; thus chronic intrathecal administration of midazolam should be avoided in humans.

Percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (lysis of epidural adhesions, epidural application of hypertonic saline) is an interventional technique for the management of pain due to spinal disorders. Epidural neuroplasty is found to be effective in removing fibrous tissue occurring in the epidural space for various reasons, however, the procedure may be prone to serious complications. We present here our retrospectively collected complications and precautions of complications of epidural neuroplasty in 250 patients. Neuroplasty, as per the technique of Racz et al., was only considered in patients suffering from low back and cervical pain after conservative treatments had been tried and had failed. Possible known complications include bending of the tip of the introducer needle, shearing/tearing of the catheter, misplacement of the catheter, inadvertent blockage of the catheter or catheter tip, migration of the catheter, hypotension, respiratory depression, urinary and/or fecal incontinence, urinary hesitancy, sexual dysfunction, paresthesia, epidural abscess, and meningitis. We found the following complications in our series: the tips of the introducer needle were bent in 12 patients; catheter sheaths were torn during withdrawal through the needle in three patients; 39 patients had bleeding or aspiration of blood from the epidural space; eight patients had their catheters migrate into an epidural vein; one patient's catheter migrated into the prevertebral space during the procedure; there were dural punctures in 11 patients; there were catheter blockages in six patients during consecutive applications of neuroplasty; hypotension was seen during and after drug injections in 12 patients, there was hypotension in one patient; three patients had migration and penetration of their catheters into the dura after placement and in consecutive days; 25 patients experienced numbness in dermatomal areas of the upper and lower extremities depending the level of the procedure; and there were eight infections at the entry site of the catheter, three epidural abscesses, and two patients with meningitis. In order to prevent complications such as those seen, epidural neuroplasty procedures must be performed in well-equipped centers by experienced hands.

Arthroscopic knee surgery is one of the most common surgeries done in outpatient settings; however, postoperative pain is believed to be the major barrier for discharge and early rehabilitation. In this study we evaluated and compared the efficacy of intraarticular application of long-lasting non-steroidal analgesic drug tenoxicam, a long-lasting local anaesthetic bupivacaine and combination of the two on postoperative pain after arthroscopic knee surgery. With the approval of the local ethics committee and signed informed consent of the patients, 75 American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II patients aged between 18 and 65 years going under elective arthroscopic meniscectomy were included in this randomized, blind, prospective study. The patients were divided into three groups: group-T (GT) patients ( n=25) had intraarticular 20 mg of tenoxicam in 20 ml normal saline; group-B (GB) patients ( n=25) had 50 mg bupivacaine in 20 ml normal saline (0.25%); group-BT (GBT) patients ( n=25) had intraarticular 20 mg of tenoxicam and 50 mg bupivacaine (0.25%) in 20 ml normal saline after completion of the surgery and before deflation of the tourniquet. Postoperative analgesia was maintained by intravenous tramadol hydrochloride 50 mg/s at the first 4 h and paracetamol 500 mg and codeine 7.5 mg preparation (Pacofen) as needed (maximum six per day) during the study period. The numeric rating scale (NRS) values were at rest and at active-passive motion at 4, 12, 24 and 48 h, total analgesic consumption, at 4 h for tramadol and at the end of 48 h for oral medication; and patient satisfaction at the end of 48 h was evaluated and recorded. The demographic features of the patients, and tourniquet times, were found to be similar between the groups. Group BT had significantly lower NRS values than GB at 12 h at rest. Group BT was found to have significantly lower NRS values at 4 h compared with GT, and significantly lower NRS values at 12 h compared with GB. Group BT was found to have significantly lower NRS values at 48 h compared with GB. Group T had significantly higher NRS values at 4 h compared with GB. Group B had significantly higher values at 12 h compared with GT and GBT. Group B used significantly more analgesics than GBT and GT throughout the study period. Group BT patients had significantly more satisfaction at the end of the study period when compared with GT and GB. Application of intraarticular tenoxicam-bupivacaine solution is a simple, safe and effective method of analgesia after arthroscopic meniscectomy with high patient satisfaction.

Palliative treatment, pain therapy and quality of life (QOL) are very important in pancreatic cancer patients. We evaluated the pain relieving efficacy, side effects and effects on QOL of neurolytic coeliac plexus blockade (NCPB) and splanchnic nerves neurolytic blockade (SNB) in body and tail located pancreatic cancer. The study protocol was approved by the local ethics committee. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Coeliac group; GC, N = 19 were treated with coeliac plexus blockade, whereas the patients in splanchnic group; GS, N = 20 were treated with bilateral splanchnic nerve blockade. The VAS values, opioid consumption and QOL (Patient satisfaction scale=PSS, performance status scale=PS) were evaluated prior to the procedure and at 2 weeks intervals after the procedure with the survival rates. The demographic features were found to be similar. The VAS differences (difference of every control's value with baseline value) in GS were significantly higher than the VAS differences in GC on every control meaning that VAS values in GS decreased more than the VAS values in GC. GS patients were found to decrease the opioid consumption significantly more than GC till the 6th control. GS patients had significant improvement in PS values at the first control. The mean survival rate was found to be significantly lower in GC. Two patients had severe pain during injection in GC and 5 patients had intractable diarrhoea in GC. Comparing the ease, pain relieving efficacy, QOL-effects of the methods, splanchnic nerve blocks may be an alternative to coeliac plexus blockade in patients with advanced body and tail located pancreatic cancer.