scholarly journals Opioid Analgesia: Perspectives on Right Use and Utility

2007 ◽  
Vol 3;10 (5;3) ◽  
pp. 479-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane C. Ballantyne
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Analgesic Efficacy ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Opioid Analgesia ◽  
Opioid Treatment

The ability of opioids to effectively and safely control acute and cancer pain has been one of several arguments used to support extending opioid treatment to patients with chronic pain, against a backdrop of considerable caution that has been based upon fears of addiction. Of course, opioids may cause addiction, but the “principle of balance” may justify that “…efforts to address abuse should not interfere with legitimate medical practice and patient care.” Yet, situations are increasingly encountered in which opioid-maintained patients are refractory to analgesia during periods of pain, or even during the course of chronic treatment. The real question is whether analgesic efficacy of opioids can be maintained over time. Overall, the evidence supporting long-term analgesic efficacy is weak. The putative mechanisms for failed opioid analgesia may be related to tolerance or opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Advances in basic sciences may help in understanding these phenomena, but the question of whether long-term opioid treatment can improve patients’ function or quality of life remains a broader issue. Opioid side effects are well known, but with chronic use, most (except constipation) subside. Still, side effects can negatively affect the outcomes and continuity of therapy. This paper addresses 1) what evidence supports the long-term utility of opioids for chronic pain; 2) how side effects may alter quality of life; 3) the nature of addiction and why it is different in pain patients, and 4) on what grounds could pain medication be denied? These questions are discussed in light of patients’ rights, and warrant balancing particular responsibilities with risks. These are framed within the Hippocratic tradition of “producing good for the patient and protecting from harm,” so as to enable 1) more informed clinical decision making, and 2) progress towards right use and utility of opioid treatment for chronic pain. Key Words: Opioids, chronic pain, addiction, side effects, utility, ethics

Hopes and fears before opioid tapering: a quantitative and qualitative study of patients with chronic pain and long-term opioids

2020 ◽  
pp. 204946372097405
Author(s):  
Jane Quinlan ◽  
Heather Willson ◽  
Katheryn Grange
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Significant Depression ◽  
Opioid Tapering ◽  
The Uk

Background: It is clear that the risks of opioids in chronic pain outweigh the benefits, creating a drive for clinicians to support patients taper and stop long-term opioids. However, it is not known how patients who have been taking these medicines for months or years feel about reducing them. Using quantitative and qualitative data, this study describes the psychological complexity of these patients and examines their hopes and fears before opioid reduction. Methods: Sixty patients attending the opioid clinic completed psychological and pain questionnaires, providing quantitative data, just before they commenced opioid tapering. They scored the severity of opioid side effects and completed a free text framework to express their beliefs about stopping or continuing opioids. A phenomenological approach was used to identify common qualitative themes. Results: Most patients were taking opioid doses above the UK recommended maximum dose and reported severe pain with high pain interference. Over 80% of patients described significant depression and 60% significant anxiety. Negative themes around stopping opioids were more common than positive ones, with 63% patients fearing increased pain. A quarter of patients referred to addiction and 16% feared withdrawal. Five patients hoped for a better quality of life; seven feared a worse one. Opioid side effects were common and severe. Conclusion: Patients with chronic pain taking long-term opioids demonstrate high psychological distress and low self-efficacy. Their concerns around opioid tapering relate to pain, quality of life and withdrawal. Identifying and addressing patients’ individual concerns should increase the likelihood of successful opioid tapering.

Long-term quality of life in patients with vestibular schwannoma managed with microsurgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (11) ◽  
pp. 953-959
Author(s):  
C Santa Maria ◽  
P L Santa Maria ◽  
V Bulsara ◽  
J Jayawardena ◽  
J D Caldow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Glasgow Benefit Inventory ◽  
Assess Quality

AbstractObjectiveLittle is known about the long term (greater than 10 years) quality of life in patients with vestibular schwannoma. This study aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes in patients with vestibular schwannoma.MethodA retrospective cohort study was performed across 2 academic institutions, with patients followed at least 10 years after vestibular schwannoma surgery (2000 to 2007). Telephone interviews were used to assess quality of life using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and short form 12 item (version 2) health survey.ResultsA total of 99 out of 110 patients were included. Increasing age and symptom burden were associated with poorer quality of life (p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). The presence of imbalance, headache and facial nerve dysfunction were all associated with poorer quality of life scores (p = 0.01, 0.04 and 0.02, respectively).ConclusionIdentifying and managing post-operative symptoms may improve quality of life in vestibular schwannoma patients and can guide clinical decision making.

scholarly journals Buprenorphine: Far Beyond the “Ceiling”

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 816
Author(s):  
Rosmara Infantino ◽  
Consalvo Mattia ◽  
Pamela Locarini ◽  
Antonio Luigi Pastore ◽  
Sabatino Maione ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
National Health System ◽  
Analgesic Drugs ◽  
Third Line ◽  
Dynamic Profile

Chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, represents an untreated disease with important repercussions on the quality of life and huge costs on the national health system. It is well known that opioids are the most powerful analgesic drugs, but they represent the second or third line in neuropathic pain, that remain difficult to manage. Moreover, these drugs show several side effects that limit their use. In addition, opioids possess addictive properties that are associated with misuse and drug abuse. Among available opioids compounds, buprenorphine has been suggested advantageous for a series of clinical reasons, including the effectiveness in neuropathic pain. Some properties are partly explained by its unique pharmacological characteristics. However, questions on the dynamic profile remain to be answered. Pharmacokinetics optimization strategies, and additional potentialities, are still to be explored. In this paper, we attempt to conceptualize the potential undiscovered dynamic profile of buprenorphine.

scholarly journals Ropivacaine 75mg versus placebo in perineal infiltration for analgesic efficacy at mid- and long-term for episiotomy repair in postpartum women- The ROPISIO study: a two-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire CARDAILLAC ◽  
Stéphane Ploteau ◽  
Aurélie Le Thuaut ◽  
Vincent Dochez ◽  
Norbert Winer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Analgesic Efficacy ◽  
Perineal Pain ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Double Blind Placebo ◽  
Mediolateral Episiotomy ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Perineal pain due to episiotomy is commonly reported and can be severe enough to disturb the mother-infant dyad during the postpartum period. Its incidence at day 7 postpartum varies from 63% to 74%. Recent studies have already investigated the analgesic efficacy of perineal infiltration of ropivacaine after episiotomy, but have only focused on the immediate postpartum period (at 24 and 48 hours after birth). Large, adequately powered, multicenter, randomized controlled trials are required to evaluate the impact of ropivacaine infiltration on perineal pain and mid- and long-term quality of life before the widespread use of ropivacaine to prevent perineal pain after episiotomy can be recommended. Methods The ROPISIO study is a two-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in La Roche sur Yon and Nantes, France. It will involve 272 women with vaginal singleton delivery and mediolateral episiotomy at term (≥ 37 weeks). Perineal infiltration (ropivacaine 75mg or placebo) will be administrated just after vaginal birth and before episiotomy repair. The primary outcome will be the analgesic efficacy at day 7 postpartum (mid-term), defined by the numerical rating scale of pain (ENS NRS) strictly superior to 3/10 on the perineal repair area. Secondary outcomes will be the analgesic efficacy (ENS NRS), the impact of pain on daily behavior, on the quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey), on the occurrence of symptoms of postpartum depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and on sexuality (Female Sexual Function Index) at 3 and 6 months (long-term) using validated online questionnaires. This study will have 90% power to show approximately 30% relative risk reduction in the incidence of perineal pain at day 7, from 70.0% to 50.0%. Discussion Ropivacaine is a promising candidate drug, inexpensive, easy to administer, and would be suitable to include in the routine management of deliveries in labor ward. This study will investigate if perineal ropivacaine infiltration just after birth can reduce mid- and long-term postpartum pain and increase quality of life in women with mediolateral episiotomy.

scholarly journals Quality of life of elderly patients with solid tumours undergoing adjuvant cancer therapy: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e018101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karis Kin-Fong Cheng ◽  
Ethel Yee-Ting Lim ◽  
Ravindran Kanesvaran
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Adjuvant Therapy ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Solid Tumours

ObjectivesThe measurement of quality of life (QoL) in elderly cancer population is increasingly being recognised as an important element of clinical decision-making and the evaluation of treatment outcome. This systematic review aimed to summarise the evidence of QoL during and after adjuvant therapy in elderly patients with cancer.MethodsA systematic search was conducted of studies published in CINAHL plus, CENTRAL, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science from the inception of these databases to December 2016. Eligible studies included RCTs and non-RCTs in which QoL was measured in elderly patients (aged 65 years or above) with stage I–III solid tumours who were undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Because of the heterogeneity and the insufficient data among the included studies, the results were synthesised narratively.ResultsWe included 4 RCTs and 14 non-RCTs on 1785 participants. In all four RCTs, the risk of bias was low or unclear for most items but high for detection. Of the 14 non-RCTs, 5 studies were judged to have a low or moderate risk of bias for all domains, and the other 9 studies had a serious risk of bias in at least one domain. The bias was observed mainly in the confounding and in the selection of participants for the study. For most elderly patients with breast cancer, the non-significant negative change in the QoL was transient. A significant increase in the QoL during the course of temozolomide in elderly patients with glioblastoma but a decreasing trend in QoL after radiotherapy was shown. This review also shows a uniform trend of stable or improved QoL during adjuvant therapy and at follow-up evaluations across the studies with prostate, colon or cervical cancer population.ConclusionsThis review suggests that adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy may not have detrimental effects on QoL in most elderly patients with solid tumours.

EVALUATION OF SHORT AND LONG TERM BENEFITS/SIDE EFFECTS OF CEMENT AUGMENTATION IN PATIENTS WITH NON INFECTIVE PATHOLOGICAL OSTEOPOROTIC VERTEBRAL COMPRESSION FRACTURES

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-48
Author(s):  
Abhay Singh ◽  
Rahul Gupta ◽  
Shachi Shachi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Vertebral Compression Fracture ◽  
Compression Fracture ◽  
Cement Augmentation ◽  
Vertebral Compression Fractures ◽  
Hybrid Technique

BACKGROUND: Vertebral compression fracture usually occurs in old age population with osteoporosis. Due to severity of pain, quality of life becomes very poor. During the study period 67 patients fullling the eligibility cri METHODS: teria underwent vertebroplasty/ kyphoplasty/ cement augmented screw xation/ hybrid procedures were included. Short term and long term benets /side effects were evaluated in all patients. Patients were evaluated on visual analogue score and modied ranking scale. RESULTS: Vertebroplasty was performed in 26(38.8%) whereas kyphoplasty, cement augmented screw xation and hybrid procedure were performed in 18(26.8%), 17(25.4%) and 6(9.0%) respectively. Signicant pain relief occurred in all patients which were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale. Quality of life also improved which was evaluated with Modied Rankin Scale. In our study, complications which occurred were local cement leak, hematoma formation, infection in 8 (11.9%), 3(4.5%) and 2(3.0%) patients respectively. Use of biological cement has revolutionized CONCLUSION: the management of vertebral compression fracture. Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures which are minimal invasive, almost cure the non infective pathological fractures with instant pain relief and very low procedure related morbidity. In cases requiring xation, cement augmentation signicantly improves the purchase of the screw and makes the construct more reliable. Hybrid technique helps to prevent extensive long level xation.

Young-onset colorectal cancer treatment side effects: Infertility, sexual dysfunction, and quality-of-life outcomes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3587-3587
Author(s):  
Laura Diane Porter ◽  
Ronit Yarden ◽  
Kim Lynn Newcomer ◽  
Negeen Fathi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Fertility Preservation ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Young Onset

3587 Background: Colorectal cancer is the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the United States. Young-onset colorectal cancer refers to individuals diagnosed under the age of 50. In recent years, the incidence has increased by 2.2% annually in individuals younger than 50 years and 1% in individuals 50-64, in contrast to a 3.3% decrease in adults 65 years and older. Young-onset (YO) CRC patients and survivors face unique clinical challenges with fertility and sexual dysfunctions, but this risk is not well quantified. There is limited data and public discussion on the long-term effects of colorectal cancer treatments on fertility and sexual dysfunction and the long-term impact on the quality of life. Methods: To explore the unique challenges and unmet needs of the young-adult patient population, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Colorectal cancer patients and survivors (N = 884) diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 50 years old (median age 42 ± 7.0) completed an online questionnaire based on established instruments EORTC-QOL-30, EORTC-CR-29, and EORTC-SHC-22. Results: Thirty-one percent of respondents stated that a medical professional spoke to them about fertility preservation at the time of diagnosis and during treatment. Only 31% were referred to a reproductive endocrinologist, even though 37% of women and 16% of men reported that treatment left them infertile or sterile. Among survey respondents, 12% of women had an egg retrieval procedure, and 36% of men had their sperm preserved prior to the start of treatment. Fifty-three percent of women reported treatment led to premature menopause. Sixty-five percent of respondents suffer from some level of sexual dysfunction due to treatment. In patients who received radiation therapy, women were 12% less likely than men to have discussed sexual side effects with the provider before treatment. Patients who have an ostomy reported more severe sexual dysfunction (17.8%). Rectal cancer patients were 2.5 times more likely than those with colon cancer to report severe dysfunction after their treatment. More than 25% of the respondents said they would have considered alternative treatment if they would have known the risks of sexual dysfunction. Conclusions: Our survey demonstrates inadequate communications between patients and providers about the irreversible fertility and sexual effects of colorectal cancer treatments. Younger patients and survivors face unique long-term challenges and require further information about fertility preservation options and emotional support regarding their sexuality post-treatment. Other studies are needed to assess the physical and psychological side effects endured by young-onset CRC patients and survivors.

scholarly journals A Re-assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of Interleukin-2 for the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. CMT.S2037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Jarkowski ◽  
Michael K.K. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Interleukin 2 ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Perceived Morbidity

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) can provide long term durable remissions for patients with advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The perceived morbidity and the difficulties in delivering this treatment hampered its widespread use in these patients. This review aims to place IL-2 in the modern milieu by reviewing the pharmacology, efficacy and toxicity of this drug. These will be contrasted and compared with the new targeted-agents. The methodology of providing high dose IL-2 treatment, follow-up care and its impact on patient quality of life will be discussed. Importantly, the ability of these agents to provide durable, complete remissions for RCC patients will be placed in context. The goal is to provide the perspective and framework for the reader to balance the important attributes of each of these drugs during the clinical decision making process.

Goals of palliative cancer therapy.

1993 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 378-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Porzsolt ◽  
I Tannock
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Palliative Treatment ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Oncology Practice

The major conclusions of the Workshop on Goals of Palliative Cancer Therapy are as follows: 1. The goals of any cancer therapy should be stated explicitly. 2. If the goal of treatment is palliation, this should be documented according to one of the established and validated methods for assessment of quality of life. Several validated methods are available, and although imperfect, have been shown to give reliable information. 3. The use of simple measures of quality of life (eg, symptom checklists, pain assessment cards) should become routine in oncology practice. The act of introducing such measures improves palliation. 4. Measures of cost-effectiveness should be used more widely in clinical decision making to ensure the appropriate deployment of resources. 5. There must be improved education of all health professionals with regard to the multiple methods for provision of palliative treatment to cancer patients and the assessment of palliation.

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