rome and Chronic-Pain

The incidence of post-surgical chronic pain ranges between 20% and 40% in Europe. Osteoarthritis pain after prosthesis implantation is one of the most severe secondary syndromes, depending not only on surgery but also on organic changes before and after joints replacement. No data are available about risk factors. An excessive inflammatory response plays a central role but a best therapy is not defined yet. It is not clear whether opioid administration could influence post-surgical pain and lead to tolerance or addiction. Interestingly, the immune system, together with the nervous and peptidergic ones, is involved in hypersensibility. The connection across the three biological systems lies in the presence of opioid receptors on immune cells surface. Here, we show a method to analyze whether opioids could modulate lymphocytes, by proposing opioid receptors as biological markers to prevent chronic pain and opioid tolerance or addiction after hip surgery.. After institutional independent ethics committee approval, 60 patients, in pain and undergoing hip surgery, will be enrolled in a single-blind, randomized, phase IV, pilot study. Pain treatment will be selected inside a class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NAISDs) or paracetamol or a class of opioids, into three medication arms: 25 mg tapentadol twice daily; 75 mg tapentadol twice daily; NSAIDs or paracetamol in accordance with surgeon's custom. For each group, we will collect blood samples before, during and after surgery, to apply molecular analysis. We will perform lymphocyte opioid receptors genes and proteins expression and functional analysis. Data will be statistically analyzed.. This project has the potential to obtain a personalized diagnostic kit, by considering lymphocyte opioid receptors as biological markers. Starting from a simple blood sample, it will be possible to decide the best therapy for a single patient. Using a noninvasive approach, we expect to fix a daily standard dose and timing, before and after surgery, to bypass hip chronic pain and the insurgence of tolerance or addiction. The analysis of opioid receptors sensitivity will help to identify the best drug administration in each specific case (tailored therapy).. ISRCTN, ISRCTN12559751 . Retrospectively registered on 23 May 2017.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Arthralgia; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Biomarkers; Chronic Pain; Clinical Protocols; Drug Tolerance; Humans; Lymphocytes; Opioid-Related Disorders; Osteoarthritis, Hip; Pain Measurement; Pain, Postoperative; Pilot Projects; Receptors, Opioid; Research Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Risk Management; Rome; Single-Blind Method; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Post-herniorrhaphy pain is common with an estimated 8-10% incidence of mesh-related complications, requiring mesh explantation in up to 6% of cases, most commonly after inguinal hernia repairs. Reoperation for mesh explantation poses a surgical challenge due to adhesions, scarring and mesh incorporation to the surrounding tissues. Robotic technology provides a versatile platform for enhanced exposure to tackle these complex cases. We aim to share our experience with a novel robotic approach to address these complex cases.. A descriptive, retrospective analysis of patients undergoing a robotic mesh explantation (RoME) for mesh-related chronic pain, or recurrent ventral hernia by two surgeons between the period of March 2016 and January of 2020. The patients were evaluated for resolution of mesh related abdominal pain as well as early post-operative complications. RoME was performed with concomitant hernia repair in cases of recurrences.. Twenty-nine patients underwent a robotic mesh explantation (RoME) for mesh-related chronic pain, or recurrent ventral hernia between March 2016 and January of 2020. Nineteen patients (65.5%) had a prior inguinal hernia repair and 10 patients (34.5%) had a prior ventral hernia repair. Indications for mesh removal included chronic pain with or without hernia recurrence. Seventeen patients (58.6%) reported improvement or resolution of pain postoperatively (63% with a prior inguinal hernia repair and 50% of patients with a prior ventral hernia repair). Five patients (17.2%) required mesh reinforcement after explantation. Nineteen patients (65.5%) underwent mesh explantation with primary fascial closure or no mesh reinforcement. The mean follow-up was 36.4 days. The most common postoperative complication was seroma formation (6.8%), with one reported recurrence (3.4%).. Robotic mesh explantation in challenging cases due to the effect of chronic scarring, adhesions and mesh incorporation to the surrounding tissues is safe and provides an advantageous platform for concomitant hernia repair in these complex cases.

Topics: Chronic Pain; Cicatrix; Hernia, Inguinal; Hernia, Ventral; Herniorrhaphy; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Recurrence; Retrospective Studies; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Rome; Surgical Mesh

World Health Organization step III opioids are required to relieve moderate-to-severe cancer pain; constipation is one of the most frequent opioid-induced side effects. A fixed combination, prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone (OXN), was developed with the aim of reducing opioid-related gastrointestinal side effects. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of prolonged-release oxycodone (OXY) alone to OXN in opioid-naïve cancer patients with moderate-to-severe pain.. Propensity analysis was utilized in this observational study, which evaluated the efficacy, safety, and quality of life.. Out of the 210 patients recruited, 146 were matched using propensity scores and included in the comparative analysis. In both groups, pain intensity decreased by ≈3 points after 60 days, indicating comparable analgesic efficacy. Responder rates were similar between groups. Analgesia was achieved and maintained with similarly low and stable dosages over time (12.0-20.4 mg/d for OXY and 11.5-22.0 mg/d for OXN). Bowel Function Index (BFI) and laxative use per week improved from baseline at 30 days and 60 days in OXN recipients (-16, P<0.0001 and -3.5, P=0.02, respectively); BFI worsened in the OXY group. The overall incidence of drug-related adverse events was 28.9% in the OXY group and 8.2% in the OXN group (P<0.01); nausea and vomiting were two to five times less frequent with OXN. Quality of life improved to a significantly greater extent in patients receiving OXN compared to OXY (increase in Short Form-36 physical component score of 7.1 points vs 3.2 points, respectively; P<0.001).. In patients with chronic cancer pain, OXN provided analgesic effectiveness that is similar to OXY, with early and sustained benefits in tolerability. The relationship between responsiveness to OXN and clinical characteristics is currently being investigated.

Topics: Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Chronic Pain; Constipation; Defecation; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Laxatives; Male; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Neoplasms; Oxycodone; Pain Measurement; Propensity Score; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Rome; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome