In conclusion, it seems that the SCS for the treatment of the abdominal visceral pain may provide a positive patient long-term experience, significant improvements in pain scores and a decrease in opioid use.

Pulsatile lavage enhanced stage III and IV pelvic pressure ulcer healing rates in people with SCI relative to standard pressure ulcer treatment alone.

This review demonstrates the acute safety of using cooled RF for L5DR denervation with no report of significant or unusual patient complications. To establish frequency of complication associated with the treatment, a larger registry is required.

Background and Objectives: Ketamine is opioid-sparing. It attenuates the onset of opioid tolerance, and suppresses opioid-induced hyperalgesia. This study evaluated whether or not repeated outpatient infusions of intravenous ketamine reduced the amount of pain and the amount of opioid requirements for patients suffering with chronic, noncancerous pain. Study Design: Retrospective study Setting: Outpatient pain clinic Methods: We reviewed the records of 18 patients taking high doses of opioids chronically and nonetheless reporting poorly controlled pain. A comparison control group of 18 similar patients with high opioid requirements who were not given ketamine were selected from our clinic population. Intervention: Intravenous ketamine infusions Measurement: VAS pain scores and opioid use Results: Morphometric and demographic characteristics, baseline opioid use, and pain scores were similar in the ketamine and comparison groups. Five patients given ketamine experienced no benefit and discontinued treatment after 1-2 infusions. One patient developed a supraventricular arrhythmia which immediately resolved upon cessation of the infusion. And another, despite pain relief, felt overly-anxious and opted out. Eleven patients thus completed 3-6 weekly ketamine infusions. At 6 months, 5 patients maintained less than 50% of their baseline opioid use, while the remaining patients returned to the baseline opioid use or increased their requirements. There was no significant difference in pain scores at 6 months in patients who received ketamine infusions and control group patients. Limitations: Retrospective nature of the study Conclusions: Outpatient intravenous ketamine infusions did not improve long-term pain scores in patients with high opioid requirements and only a few were able to substantially reduce opioid use. Considering infusion risks and cost of such outpatient treatment, ketamine infusions do not appear to be a feasible option for improving pain relief and decreasing opioid use in high-opioid requirement patients. Key words: Ketamine; anesthesia; chronic pain; opioids; continuous infusion; opioid requirements