Search results for "Cancer Pain"
showing 10 items of 134 documents
Classification of neuropathic pain in cancer patients: A Delphi expert survey report and EAPC/IASP proposal of an algorithm for diagnostic criteria
2014
Neuropathic pain (NP) in cancer patients lacks standards for diagnosis. This study is aimed at reaching consensus on the application of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) special interest group for neuropathic pain (NeuPSIG) criteria to the diagnosis of NP in cancer patients and on the relevance of patient-reported outcome (PRO) descriptors for the screening of NP in this population. An international group of 42 experts was invited to participate in a consensus process through a modified 2-round Internet-based Delphi survey. Relevant topics investigated were: peculiarities of NP in patients with cancer, IASP NeuPSIG diagnostic criteria adaptation and assessment, and …
Meaningful cut-off pain intensity for breakthrough pain changes in advanced cancer patients
2013
Abstract OBJECTIVES: To assess the level of pain intensity at which patients feel the impetus to ask for a breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) medication, and level of pain intensity at which patients consider they have achieved acceptable pain control after receiving a BTcP medication. METHODS: A consecutive sample of patients who were receiving oral morphine equivalents equal to or more than 60 mg daily, and were prescribed rapid onset opioids for the management of episodes of BTcP, were included in the study. Focused educational activities regarding BTcP and numerical scales were established during hospital admission. At discharge patients were interviewed to find out what was the pain inten…
Relationship between background cancer pain, breakthrough pain, and analgesic treatment: a preliminary study for a better interpretation of epidemiol…
2020
Abstract Abstract Background: The different operational definitions of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) has generated unclear epidemiological data. Methods: A consecutive sample of patients was categorized on the basis of their background pain intensity, background analgesic treatment, and the presence of BTcP. Results: A total of 265 patients were surveyed; 117 patients had background pain and 91 patients presented peaks of pain intensity distinguishable from background pain. Of 117 patients with background pain, 49 patients were re-assessed after optimization of background analgesia (T1) within a mean of 8.2 days. Pain intensity significantly decreased in comparison with values recorded at…
Tools for identifying cancer pain of predominantly neuropathic origin and opioid responsiveness in cancer patients.
2009
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a difficult issue, particularly in cancer which is a dynamic condition where multiple pain etiologies are concomitantly present. Cancer pain is often labeled as mixed mechanism pain and is not easily classified as exclusively nociceptive or NP. The aim of this study was to explore the value of evaluation tools such as Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), complete and short form (NPQ-SF), Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Signs and Symptoms (LANSS) and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI). The secondary outcome was to evaluate the response to opioid titration, according to the hierarchical classification of definite, possible and unlikely NP. A consecutive sample…
Breakthrough Pain in Advanced Cancer Patients Followed at Home: A Longitudinal Study
2009
The aim of this study was to longitudinally assess breakthrough pain (BP) in advanced cancer patients who were admitted to home palliative care. One hundred and one consecutive patients who were admitted to one of the two home care programs and were representative of the cancer population followed at home in Italy were included. Patients were excluded only if at admission they were cognitively impaired or too unwell to provide reliable answers to questions regarding data collection. At admission (T(0)), and one month later (T(1)), data were recorded about the pharmacological treatment of background pain and its effectiveness; the presence of BP and its intensity, duration, and number of epi…
Outcome of opioid switching 4 weeks after discharge from a palliative care unit.
2011
Despite the favorable effects reported with opioid switching performed in a specialized unit in the short term, data on long-term basis are poor, particularly after discharging patients home or in other settings.The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients who were switched in an acute palliative care unit at a high volume of opioid switching. A consecutive sample of patients who underwent opioid substitution during admission in an acute palliative care unit were assessed for a period of 1 year. Patients were followed-up for 4 weeks after being discharged. Patients were contacted by phone or visited at the outpatient clinic 4 weeks after discharge. Epi…
Opioid escalation in patients with cancer pain: the effect of age.
2006
Elderly people are commonly considered more susceptible to opioid effects. However, no data regarding the need for opioid escalation in patients already receiving opioids for the management of chronic pain are available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences between younger and older patients during the crucial phase of opioid titration. One hundred consecutive patients with cancer pain requiring further opioid dose refinement were recruited for this cohort study. Pain intensity, dose of opioids, number of opioids used (need to switch), routes of administration used, and opioid-related symptoms were measured from admission until dose stabilization. Opioid escalation inde…
Opioid switching in patients with advanced cancer followed at home. A retrospective analysis.
2013
Abstract CONTEXT: Opioid switching has been found to improve opioid responsiveness in different conditions. However, data on opioid switching performed at home are almost nonexistent, despite the fact that most patients are followed at home. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this retrospective survey was to determine frequency, indications, usefulness, and safety of opioid switching when treating advanced cancer-related pain in patients followed at home. METHODS: A retrospective review of data from patients with advanced cancer followed at home by three home care teams for a period of two years was performed. Patients who had their opioids switched were selected. Reasons for switching opioid doses and…
Equipotent doses to switch from high doses of opioids to transdermal buprenorphine.
2008
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the equianalgesic ratio of transdermal buprenorphine (TD BUP) with oral morphine and TD fentanyl in a sample of consecutive cancer patients receiving stable doses of 120-240 mg of oral morphine or 50-100 microg of TD fentanyl, reporting adequate pain and symptom control. MATERIALS, METHODS, AND RESULTS: Patients receiving daily stable doses of opioids for more than 6 days, with no more than two doses of oral morphine (20 and 40 mg, respectively) as needed, were switched to TD BUP using a fentanyl-BUP ratio of 0.6:0.8 and an oral morphine-BUP ratio of 70:1. Opioid doses, pain and symptom intensity, global satisfaction, and number of breakth…
Symptom burden in mesothelioma patients admitted to home palliative care
2016
Context: Mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer that is brought on by asbestos exposure. Because there is a long latency period between exposure to asbestos and symptoms of disease, most patients with mesothelioma present with advanced disease and survive an average of 8â12 months. Thus, best supportive care should be considered critical to optimally manage these patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiological characteristics and symptom burden of mesothelioma patients when admitted to home palliative care. Methods: The charts of a consecutive sample of patients admitted to the home palliative care program with a diagnosis of mesothelioma in an endemic industrial…