Search results for "opioids."

Breakthrough pain in patients with abdominal cancer pain.

2014

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Characterization of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in patients with abdominal cancer is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of BTcP in patients with abdominal cancer pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an observational cohort study, from a consecutive sample of patients admitted to a pain relief and supportive care unit for a period of 13 months, patients with abdominal disease due to cancer, including primary cancer or metastases, were assessed for the presence of chronic abdominal pain; its mechanism, intensity of background pain, and pain flares, which were distinguishable from the baseline pain, were recorded. Patients presenting with pain fl…

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…

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…

Problematic discharge from hospital for patients prescribed opioids for cancer pain.

2005

Nurse-based monitoring and management of breakthrough pain in an acute pain relief and palliative care unit

2016

To assess the nurses' performance in assessing, treating, and documenting breakthrough pain (BTP) in a palliative care unit where traditionally there is continuous training.The study was performed in an acute palliative care unit. Once a week, a research nurse examined the documentation regarding all the episodes of BTP registered in a specific pain chart, designed by the institutional nurse board, as part of the routine nurse activity.The charts of 50 consecutive eligible patients (32 M/18 F), were analysed. The mean number of episodes/patient was 3.3 (SD 1.61; range 1-7). 166 episodes occurred. The main BTP pain intensity was 7.06 (SD 0.82). In 7 episodes, pain intensity was not evaluated…

Dosing fentanyl buccal tablet for breakthrough cancer pain: dose titration versus proportional doses.

2012

Abstract OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of doses of fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) proportional to doses of opioids used for background analgesia versus dose titration starting with the minimal dose for the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP). METHODS: A total of 82 cancer patients with BTcP who were receiving strong opioids in doses of at least 60 mg of oral morphine equivalents and having acceptable background analgesia, were selected for a multicenter unblinded study. Forty-one patients were randomized to receive FBT in doses proportional to the daily opioid doses for four consecutive episodes of BTcP (group P). Forty-one patients underwe…

Odd haemoglobins in odd-toed ungulates: Impact of selected haemoglobin characteristics of the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) on the monitorin…

2019

Background Due to the current poaching crisis in Africa, increasing numbers of white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) require opioid immobilisation for medical interventions or management procedures. Alarmingly, the results of both blood gas analysis and pulse oximetry regularly indicate severe hypoxaemia. Yet, the recovery of the animals is uneventful. Thus, neither of the techniques seems to represent the real oxygenation level. We hypothesized that unusual haemoglobin characteristics of this species interfere with the techniques developed and calibrated for the use in human patients. Methods Haemoglobin was isolated from blood samples of four adult, white rhinoceroses. Oxygen dissociat…

The stigma of low opioid prescription in the hospitalized multimorbid elderly in Italy.

2015

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of opioid prescriptions in hospitalized geriatric patients. Other aims were to evaluate factors associated with opioid prescription, and whether or not there was consistency between the presence of pain and prescription. Opioid prescriptions were gathered from the REgistro POliterapie Societa` Italiana di Medicina Interna (REPOSI) data for the years 2008, 2010 and 2012. 1,380 in-patients, 65+ years old, were enrolled in the first registry run, 1,332 in the second and 1,340 in the third. The prevalence of opioid prescription was calculated at hospital admission and discharge. In the third run of the registry, the degree of pain was…

Fentanyl and sufentanyl in fast track anaesthesia for major intra-abdominal surgery

2012

Background and aim: Major intra-abdominal surgery is estimated to have high costs annually in Italy. In an attempt to decrease surgery costs and improve outcome for patients, fast-track programs have become popular. This is especially due both to the improvement of surgery and to the new anesthetic agents (regarding pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic) resulting in better care for patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate two different anesthetic protocols in patients undergoing scheduled anesthesia including the combination of two different opioids (fentanyl or sufentanil) with the same hypnotic and muscle relaxant. Material and Methods: 40 patients, with an American Society of Anest…

Early palliative care of non‑small cell lung cancer in the context of immunotherapy (Review)

2020

Abstract. The most common cause of mortality due to malig‑ nant neoplasms in the general population around the world is lung cancer. In the last 10 years, there has been an enormous improvement in the treatment of this disease, mainly due to the immunotherapy that activates the immune system to fight cancer. Patients with metastatic non‑small cell lung cancer are a special group of patients requiring not only cancer treatment but also considerable support in the treatment of cancer‑related problems, as well as comorbidities. Early palliative care is important in this area. In addition, there is certain evidence that medicines most commonly administered in palliative care may lower the effic…