Alireza Salimi

Effect of ultra-rapid opiate detoxification on withdrawal syndrome.

ABSTRACT The aim of study was determine the effect of ultra-rapid opiate detoxification (UROD) on the presence or absence of withdrawal syndrome in a group of patients with opiate dependency. In this study, withdrawal syndrome of 173 patients with opiate addiction was evaluated before and after UROD using the Objective Opioid Withdrawal Scale. Hence, each patient was observed for 5 minutes before UROD and at different hours afterward to observe any withdrawal sign. The most prevalent withdrawal sign before UROD was anxiety. Restlessness was the most prevalent finding at 1, 3, and 6 hours. After 12 hours, yawning was reported as the most prevalent finding in 39 participants. Anxiety was reported as the most prevalent finding in 61 participants after 24 hours. Patients with opioid dependency who underwent UROD showed the highest rate of withdrawal symptoms at one hour after anesthesia. Most of these symptoms subsided after 24 hours. UROD can be applied for detoxification of patients with opioid dependency with safety.

Reduction in labor pain by intrathecal midazolam as an adjunct to sufentanil

Background Anesthesia today has strived to decrease labor pain in a tolerable and controllable fashion. Intrathecal midazolam has been introduced as an adjunct to analgesics. The study was planned to assess the efficacy, safety and duration of analgesia produced by intrathecal midazolam adjunct to sufentanil in decreasing labor pain. Methods In a randomized clinical trial 80 parturient included in the study. The two groups were matched for age, cervical dilation, gravid, gestational age, and other demographic characteristics. Combination of sufentanil and midazolam administered intrathecally to experimental group and compared to sufentanil group. Time to reach maximum block, and pain score was measured and recorded. Results Groups were matched for age and weight and other demographic characteristic. No significant adverse effect was seen in both groups including decrease in Apgar score. Duration of analgesia was 92.0 ± 12.7 in sufentanil group and 185.2 ± 15.2 minutes in midazolam and sufentanil group which was significantly different (P = 0.002). Numeric rating scale score was significantly lower in midazolam group compare to sufentanil group at 120 min (P = 0.01), 150 min (P = 0.0014), and 180 min (P = 0.001). Conclusions Intrathecal midazolam as an adjunct to opioid could significantly enhance analgesia in labor pain with no significant adverse effect. Intrathecal injection of midazolam is an appropriate alternative to parenteral or epidural analgesia in small hospital settings.

Long-Term Relapse of Ultra-Rapid Opioid Detoxification

Ultra-rapid opioid detoxification (UROD) and subsequently induction of naltrexone maintenance therapy can be regarded as a safe and effective detoxification method for use in patients with opiate addiction. Long-term efficacy, relapse time, and relapse rate of this method is not clear. The aim of this article was to assess UROD efficacy and estimate the relapse rate in the 2-year follow-up period. Opioid-addicted, self-reporting patients referred to our hospital center were enrolled. All demographic data were collected by direct interview and based on patients’ official documents. Addiction information were obtained from the patients’ own admission and the interviews. Patients then began the UROD process. Thereafter, patients were scheduled for follow-up visits every 3 months for a 2-year period. A total of 424 patients were enrolled in the study and entered the UROD program, of which 400 patients completed. Of the total patients, 303 (75.75%) were successful (successful group) and 97 (24.25%) relapsed (relapse group). The unemployment rate was significantly higher in the relapse group (76%) compared with those in the successful group (21%) (P = .02). No patients in the relapse group continued naltrexone maintenance at 6-month follow-up, which was significantly lower than successful group (75.8%) (P < .05). The relapse rate was 14% at the first month visit and 24% at the 6 month and thereafter. All patients who had a relapse incident discontinued use of naltrexone before relapse happened. UROD could be an effective method of detoxification in addicted patients, but case selection, sticking to the guidelines, and maintenance therapy accompanied with social support is necessary to minimize relapse and withdrawal symptoms.

Carbamazepine effects on pain management and serum IL-6, IL-10 evaluation in addicted patients undergoing surgery

&NA; Postoperative pain control remains an important issue in the field of surgery. Assessing and managing patients with acute pain who are addicted to opioids are often challenging. It has been shown that, addicted patients are less tolerant to pain. There is limited evidence to guide the management of acute pain in these patients. Here we studied the effect of preemptive use of carbamazepine on pain behavior and serum IL‐6, IL‐10 levels in the addicted patients. 90 male patients (25–45 years, BMI 20–27), were divided into 3 group of 30 patients: 1‐ control, 2‐ addicted, 3‐ addicted patients receiving carbamazepine 400 mg before surgery. The visual analog pain scale and serum levels of IL‐6 and IL‐10 were evaluated at time 0 (before surgery), 1 and 12 h postoperatively. Compared with control and carbamazepine groups, addicted patients exhibited exaggerated pain behavior before and after surgery, however, postoperatively, a significant increase in pain behavior was seen in control compared to carbamazepine group. A decrease in serum IL‐10 and an increase in IL‐6 concentrations were observed in addicted patients. In the morphine abuser, a decrease in pain threshold, an increase in IL‐6 and a decrease in IL‐10 levels were evident compared with non‐abuser subjects. Addition of carbamazepine improved pain sensation and serum IL‐6 levels and a reduction in serum IL‐10 level in control patients was paralleled to their recovery. It seems that, preemptive use of low dose of carbamazepine can improve postoperative pain and cytokine activities in the addicted patients.