Perceived barriers to a career in pain medicine in the Republic of Ireland.

Background: As the population ages, musculoskeletal disorders are a prominent contributory factor to loss of mobility and autonomy. Pain is a predictor of disability and worsening frailty and the role of the chronic pain specialist in the management of this cohort cannot be overstated. With growing requirements for pain specialists, we sought to identify barriers to recruitment within this specialty.

Ultrasound-guided, continuous erector spinae plane (ESP) block in minimally invasive thoracic surgery-comparing programmed intermittent bolus (PIB) vs continuous infusion on quality of recovery and postoperative respiratory function: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial.

Background: Minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS) has been shown to reduce postoperative pain and contribute to better postoperative quality of life as compared to open thoracic surgery (Bendixen et al., Lancet Oncol 17:836-44, 2016). However, it still causes significant post-operative pain.

Managing Pain in the Older Cancer Patient.

Purpose Of Review: This paper aims to give the specialist and non-specialist alike an overview of the considerations involved in the management of cancer-related pain in the older population.

Recent Findings: Comprehensive guidelines on cancer pain management have been published recently by expert bodies. Cancer pain differs in many respects to other pain conditions and we are likely to encounter it more frequently in older patients in the future.

Dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency treatment for chronic cervical radicular pain: a retrospective review of outcomes in fifty-nine cases.

Unlabelled: Pulsed radiofrequency treatment adjacent to the cervical dorsal root ganglion is used to treat persistent cervical radicular pain that has not responded to conservative therapies. This technique has gained popularity in years for both cervical and lumbosacral radicular pain. The evidence to support its use is still evolving.