Total intravenous anesthesia using remifentanil in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Comparison of two dosages: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy is usually performed in day surgery setting, consequently people who undergo to this procedure need a safe and fast recovery. Conscious sedation with remifentanil can relieve from pain and keep patients in touch with anaesthesiologists. Few publications tell about infusion rates administered to perform this procedure7.

Safety and efficacy of transdermal buprenorphine and transdermal fentanyl in the treatment of neuropathic pain in AIDS patients.

Background: Multifactor neuropathic pain is one of the most frequent symptoms in AIDS patients and analgesic treatment is primarily based on the use of drug combination of opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and antiepileptics. However, the chronic use of opioids in AIDS patients presents a risk due to the immunosuppressive action of these drugs. Until now, buprenorphine has been regarded as one of the safest opioid analgesics for the treatment of patients with compromised immune systems.

Breakthrough pain in patients referred to pain clinics: the Italian pain network retrospective study.

Introduction: Despite breakthrough pain (BTP) being one of the most severe forms of pain, there are no definitive data on its prevalence.

Methods: The authors performed a retrospective survey of the prevalence of BTP in consecutive patients in four Italian pain clinics, subsequent to application of an Italian law mandating detailed clinical records on pain characteristics, treatment, and results. Mean pain intensity was assessed with a numerical rating scale from 0 to 10.

Learning curves of the Airtraq and the Macintosh laryngoscopes for tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists: a clinical study.

Background: The curved laryngoscope blade described by Macintosh in 1943 remains the most widely used device to facilitate tracheal intubation. The Airtraq laryngoscope is a new, single-use device for tracheal intubation. Several studies compared the use of Airtraq and Macintosh laryngoscopes in simulated intubation scenarios on manikins.

Effects of opioid rotation in chronic pain patients: ORTIBARN study.

Background: Opioid rotation is currently the subject of considerable debate for two reasons: firstly as a strategy for pain treatment, and secondly because of the difficulty in determining equianalgesic doses. Switching from one slow-release (SR) opioid analgesic to another raises a number of critical issues, and there are no widespread studies that support a standard protocol. Initiation of opioid therapy must consider gradual dose titration of the drug until the minimum effective and maximum tolerated dosage for each patient is found.

Standard therapy with opioids in chronic pain management : ORTIBER study.

Objective: Moderate to severe pain is commonly experienced by cancer and non-cancer patients. Although opioids are generally the most important drugs in chronic pain management, their use in Italy remains low. We designed a prospective open trial to assess the efficacy and safety of a standard therapy clinically available for a large range of patients.

Caudal analgesia in children: S(+)-ketamine vs S(+)-ketamine plus clonidine.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative analgesia provided by caudal S(+)-ketamine and S(+)-ketamine plus clonidine without local anesthetic.

Methods: Forty-four children aged 1-5 years consecutively scheduled for inguinal hernia repair, hydrocele repair or orchidopexy were randomly assigned to receive a caudal injection of either S(+)-ketamine 1 mg x kg(-1) (group K) or S(+)-ketamine 0.5 mg x kg(-1) plus clonidine 1 microg x kg(-1) (group KC).

Noninvasive ventilation in the treatment of acute respiratory failure induced by all-trans retinoic acid (retinoic acid syndrome) in children with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive ventilation through a nasal mask in the treatment of acute respiratory failure induced by all-trans retinoic acid.

Design: Observational, nonrandomized report of two cases.

Setting: Intensive care unit in a university hospital.