Inhibition of Nociception-induced Spinal Sensitization by Anesthetic Agents 

Abstract

Volatile anesthetics or nitrous oxide significantly suppress spinal sensitization, whereas the combination of nitrous oxide plus halothane causes no suppression. Thiopental does not affect spinal sensitization, whereas propofol causes significant suppression. These results may have important implications regarding the development of postoperative pain.

EMLA reduces acute and chronic pain after breast surgery for cancer

“…Volatile anesthetics also exhibit local analgesic properties and inhibit nociception-induced spinal sensitization. 7,8 Systemic lidocaine at low doses can exert potent effects on sensory processing without affecting axonal conduction. 9 We did not measure the levels of local anesthetics after application of 20 g of EMLA, which are expected to be lower than the levels obtained after lidocaine infusion.…”

Preemptive analgesia: No relevant advantage of preoperative compared with postoperative intravenous administration of morphine, ketamine, and clonidine in patients undergoing transperitoneal tumor nephrectomy☆

“…by volatile anesthetics. 26 Thus, the combination of nitrous oxide and enflurane in the present study should not have obscured differences between groups in outcome.…”

“…26 However, nitrous oxide-related preemptive analgesia is antagonized Pain scores at rest (A) and during induced cough (B) 2 to 48 hours after end of surgery. Pain scores did not differ between pre-(E) and postoperative (F) groups, either at rest (A) or during induced cough (B).…”

The Effects of Anesthetics on Chronic Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery

“…Thus, it seems that propofol has its own analgesic effects by preventing sensitization mechanisms. 26,27 Although sevoflurane prevents sensitization by inhibiting the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, this effect cannot sufficiently prevent chronic pain. 28 Anesthetics did not show significant effects on the severity of chronic pain.…”