Effects of Bupivacaine on Opioid Patient-Controlled Intrathecal Analgesia in Chronic Pain Patients Implanted with Drug Delivery Systems.

Background: Combining neuraxial opioids and local anesthetics in acute pain results in improved duration of analgesia and reduced dosages and adverse effects. Although commonly used in intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) for chronic pain, the effectiveness of this admixture has not been examined specifically in relation to patient-controlled intrathecal analgesia (PCIA).

Methods: IDDS-implanted chronic noncancer pain patients receiving opioids with bupivacaine (O + B) were randomized to receive either opioids without bupivacaine (O) or O + B in a double-blind manner, at IDDS refills, for one week and then crossed over to the other solution for another week.

Effect of Long-Term Intrathecal Bupivacaine Infusion on Blood Pressure.

Objectives: The local anesthetic bupivacaine is a common analgesic adjuvant medication used in combination with opioids in intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDSs). While the acute effects of spinal bupivacaine injection on blood pressure (BP) have been studied, there is a dearth of data regarding long-term effects of continuous intrathecal bupivacaine infusion.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of all noncancer pain patients receiving bupivacaine through IDDSs from January 2013 to November 2017 was performed.

Intrathecal Trialing of Continuous Infusion Combination Therapy With Hydromorphone and Bupivacaine in Failed Back Surgery Patients.

Objectives: Intrathecal (IT) trial is a prognostic interventional pain management procedure employed to determine the potential success of treating intractable pain with an implantable infusion device system. There is a dearth of data regarding trials with continuous infusion of combination therapy (e.g.

A spreadsheet calculator for estimating biogas production and economic measures for UK-based farm-fed anaerobic digesters.

This paper presents a spreadsheet calculator to estimate biogas production and the operational revenue and costs for UK-based farm-fed anaerobic digesters. There exist sophisticated biogas production models in published literature, but the application of these in farm-fed anaerobic digesters is often impractical. This is due to the limited measuring devices, financial constraints, and the operators being non-experts in anaerobic digestion.

The Contribution of Gender to Apparent Sex Differences in Health Status Among Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: While it has been identified that gender (socially manufactured roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities) plays a central role in men's and women's health, the distinction between gender and sex (biological attributes) has largely been ignored in health science research. The purpose of this study was to look at the unique contributions of sex, age, and the Gender Index (GI) to baseline health status in a cohort of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Participants And Methods: Questions that comprised the GI were included in the follow-up questionnaire sent to patients in the APPROACH registry.

Sudden Intrathecal Drug Delivery Device Motor Stalls: A Case Series.

Background And Objectives: Intrathecal (IT) drug delivery systems (IDDSs) have been valuable in managing refractory chronic cancer and noncancer pain for more than 3 decades. These devices, time tested and overall reliable, have lately been noted at this institution to cease infusing unexpectedly. If not immediately recognized and rectified, this abrupt malfunction may lead to significant patient harm.