Predictors of Persistent Neuropathic Pain--A Systematic Review.

Background: Characterization of the prognostic variables for persistent neuropathic pain (PNP) remains incomplete despite multiple articles addressing this topic. To provide more insight into the recovery and prognosis of neuropathic pain, high-quality data are required that provide information about the predictors that contribute to the development of PNP.

Objective: To determine the methodological quality of studies about predictors for PNP and to summarize findings of predictors found in high-quality studies.

Pain in dementia: prevalence and associated factors: protocol of a multidisciplinary study.

Background: Pain is a common problem in people with dementia, however the exact prevalence of pain in dementia subtypes, e.g. Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Vascular Dementia (VaD), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), is unknown, as is the relation between pain and the different subtypes of dementia.

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of methylnaltrexone in resolving constipation induced by different opioid subtypes combined with laboratory analysis of immunomodulatory and antiangiogenic effects of methylnaltrexone.

Background: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is one of the major symptoms in palliative care with a prevalence of 30-50%. Methylnaltrexone for the treatment of OIC is significantly more effective than placebo, but only in about fifty percent of the patients regardless of dose increase. Dose increases cause increased toxicity without additional efficacy, and are therefore not recommended.

The palliative performance scale applied in high-care residential hospice: a retrospective study.

Background: The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is a tool that is widely used to predict end of life. In Ontario, Canada, the PPS is used to mark the terminal phase of life and eligibility for terminal care.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to confirm that a PPS level of 40% can be used as a marker for the terminal phase of life.

Continuous palliative sedation: not only a response to physical suffering.

Background: Palliative sedation is a medical intervention aimed at relieving symptoms that can no longer be controlled by conventional treatment. Ample knowledge is available regarding the nature of such symptoms, but there is no in-depth information regarding how health care workers decide about palliative sedation.

Objective: The study objective was to investigate considerations concerning the indications for continuous palliative sedation (CPS) and issues that influence these considerations.

A favorable course of palliative sedation: searching for indicators using caregivers' perspectives.

Objective: Comparing characteristics of a favorable sedation course during palliative sedation to a less favorable course based on the reports Dutch physicians and nurses.

Results: Cases identified as having a favorable sedation course less often concerned a male patient (P = .019 nurses' cases), reached the intended sedation depth significantly quicker (P < .

Intravenous magnesium for chronic complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1).

Objective: To assess the effects of intravenous administration of magnesium on complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1), a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with CRPS-1 (International Association for the Study of Pain Orlando criteria) received MgSO(4) 70 mg/kg or placebo (NaCl 0.9%) in 4 hours over 5 consecutive days.

An overview of predictors for persistent neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system. A variety of factors associated with the development of persistent NP have been suggested. The goal of the present article is to provide an overview of current knowledge about prognostic factors for persistent NP.

Oxidative stress in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): no systemically elevated levels of malondialdehyde, F2-isoprostanes and 8OHdG in a selected sample of patients.

Exaggerated inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). However, studies assessing markers for oxidative stress in CRPS patients are limited. In this study, markers for lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde and F2-isoprostanes) and DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine) were measured in nine patients (mean age 50.

Palliative sedation: reliability and validity of sedation scales.

Context: Observer-based sedation scales have been used to provide a measurable estimate of the comfort of nonalert patients in palliative sedation. However, their usefulness and appropriateness in this setting has not been demonstrated.

Objectives: To study the reliability and validity of observer-based sedation scales in palliative sedation.

Pressure during decision making of continuous sedation in end-of-life situations in Dutch general practice.

Background: Little is known about pressure from patients or relatives on physician's decision making of continuous palliative sedation. We aim to describe experienced pressure by general practitioners (GPs) in cases of continuous sedation after the introduction of the Dutch practice guideline, using a questionnaire survey.

Methods: A sample of 918 Dutch GPs were invited to fill out a questionnaire about their last patient under continuous sedation.

Considerations of physicians about the depth of palliative sedation at the end of life.

Background: Although guidelines advise titration of palliative sedation at the end of life, in practice the depth of sedation can range from mild to deep. We investigated physicians' considerations about the depth of continuous sedation.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study in which 54 physicians underwent semistructured interviewing about the last patient for whom they had been responsible for providing continuous palliative sedation.

Predictors for persistent neuropathic pain--a Delphi survey.

Background: Chronic neuropathic pain has a major effect on quality of life. In order to prevent neuropathic pain from becoming chronic and improve neuropathic pain care, it is important to identify predictors associated with the persistence of neuropathic pain.

Objective: To identify potential predictors associated with the persistence of neuropathic pain.

The use of observational scales to monitor symptom control and depth of sedation in patients requiring palliative sedation: a systematic review.

Background: Palliative sedation is the intentional lowering of consciousness of a patient in the last phase of life to relieve suffering from refractory symptoms such as pain, delirium and dyspnoea.

Aim: In this systematic review, we evaluated the use of monitoring scales to assess the degree of control of refractory symptoms and/or the depth of the sedation.

Design: A database search of PubMed and Embase was performed up to January 2010 using the search terms 'palliative sedation' OR 'terminal sedation'.

Continuous palliative sedation for cancer and noncancer patients.

Context: Palliative care is often focused on cancer patients. Palliative sedation at the end of life is an intervention to address severe suffering in the last stage of life.

Objectives: To study the practice of continuous palliative sedation for both cancer and noncancer patients.

Palliative sedation at home in the Netherlands: a nationwide survey among nurses.

Aim: This paper is a report of a nationwide study conducted to assess experiences of nurses involved in palliative sedation at home after introduction of a physicians' guideline for palliative sedation.

Background: Most studies investigating the practice of palliative sedation focus on physicians' practices and attitudes. However, little is known about experiences and attitudes of nurses.

Distribution of signs and symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome type I in patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of the International Association for the Study of Pain.

The aim of the present study was to describe the occurrence of signs and symptoms in CRPS I patients meeting the IASP (Orlando) criteria, assess the occurrence of signs and symptoms in relation to disease duration and compare these to historical data based on a different diagnostic criteria set. Six hundred and ninety-two ambulatory patients meeting the IASP criteria for CRPS I referred to the outpatient clinics of five participating centers were included in this cross-sectional study. Characteristics were recorded in a standardized fashion and categorized according to the factor structure proposed by Bruehl/Harden.

[Palliative sedation largely in accordance with Dutch national guideline].

Objective: To evaluate the practice of continuous palliative sedation after the introduction of a national guideline.

Design: Investigation by questionnaire.

Method: In 2008, 1580 physicians were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding the last patient for whom they had prescribed continuous sedation until death.

Hemodynamic changes during a combined psoas compartment-sciatic nerve block for elective orthopedic surgery.

Background: Hemodynamic variables can theoretically be influenced by a combined psoas compartment-sciatic nerve block (CPCSNB) owing to a relatively high systemic absorption of local anesthetics and extended vasodilatation in the anesthetized limb (hemisympatectomy). In this study we assessed and documented hemodynamic changes during CPCSNB for elective orthopedic surgery.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients scheduled for a total hip arthroplasty revision surgery were subjected to a CPCSNB with 150 mg bupivacaine (with epinephrine 1:200.

NMDA receptor antagonists for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Objective: The N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been proposed as a primary target for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The aim of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis evaluating the effects of (individual) NMDA receptor antagonists on neuropathic pain, and the response (sensitivity) of individual neuropathic pain disorders to NMDA receptor antagonist therapy.

Design: PubMed (including MEDLINE), EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched up to October 26, 2009 for randomized placebo controlled trials (RCTs) on neuropathic pain.

Reliability of the Semmes Weinstein Monofilaments to measure coetaneous sensibility in the feet of healthy subjects.

Purpose: To determine the intrarater-reliability, interrater-reliability and normal reference scores of the Semmes Weinstein Monofilament test (SWM) of the feet of healthy subjects. In addition, the stability of the SWM for prospective use was assessed by determining systematic changes in sensory thresholds.

Methods: Interrater-reliability was assessed on five locations of the plantar side of both feet using monofilaments 1.

Evidence based guidelines for complex regional pain syndrome type 1.

Background: Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is subject to discussion. The purpose of this study was to develop multidisciplinary guidelines for treatment of CRPS-I.

Method: A multidisciplinary task force graded literature evaluating treatment effects for CRPS-I according to their strength of evidence, published between 1980 to June 2005.

Role of cervical cordotomy and other neurolytic procedures in thoracic cancer pain.

Purpose Of Review: Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the percutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC) in palliative care medicine in patients suffering from thoracic cancer pain; fluoroscopy-guided versus computed tomographic-guided PCC. Evaluation of recent developments in other neurolytic procedures in thoracic pain.

Recent Findings: Technical progress has provided us with much more accurate means of visualizing the spinal cord and its subunits.