Anna Przeklasa-Muszyńska

Diagnosis and management of neuropathic pain: review of literature and recommendations of the Polish Association for the study of pain and the Polish Neurological Society - part one.

Neuropathic pain may be caused by a variety of lesions or diseases of both the peripheral and central nervous system. The most common and best known syndromes of peripheral neuropathic pain are painful diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal and post-herpetic neuralgia, persistent post-operative and post-traumatic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, cancer-related neuropathic pain, HIV-related neuropathic pain and pain after amputation. The less common central pain comprises primarily central post-stroke pain, pain after spinal cord injury, central pain in Parkinson disease or in other neurodegenerative diseases, pain in syringomyelia and in multiple sclerosis. A multidisciplinary team of Polish experts, commissioned by the Polish Association for the Study of Pain and the Polish Neurological Society, has reviewed the literature on various types of neuropathic pain, with special focus on the available international guidelines, and has formulated recommendations on their diagnosis and treatment, in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM). High quality studies on the efficacy of various medicines and medical procedures in many neuropathic pain syndromes are scarce, which makes the recommendations less robust.

Transdermal buprenorphine for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain: results from a large multicenter, non-interventional post-marketing study in Poland

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the use of a buprenorphine transdermal patch (Transtec) in routine clinical practice, including dosage, indications, efficacy and tolerability. Research design and methods: This prospective, open-label, non-comparative, non-interventional, post-marketing study was performed in Poland by 339 investigators in a range of clinical practice settings. Patients with chronic moderate to severe cancer pain, or chronic severe non-cancer pain that was insufficiently controlled by non-opioids, were prescribed buprenorphine transdermal patch 35, 52.5 or 70 μg/hour (changed twice weekly), and followed up for 3 months. Additional analgesia, and adjuvant/supportive treatments were allowed at the discretion of the physician. Main outcome measures: The study enrolled 4030 patients, with a mean age of 62.8 years. Most patients had cancer-related pain (80.7%). Non-cancer pain was generally musculoskeletal or neuropathic. A starting dose of 35, 52.5 or 70 μg/hour was used in 73.4%, 21.5%, and 4.8% of patients, respectively. Buprenorphine dose was increased in 44.7% of patients during the observation, generally from 35 to 52.5 μg/hour. Mean pain intensity (using a 100 mm visual analogue scale) decreased by 73.5% from 62.3 mm at baseline to 16.5 mm after 3 months. Most patients rated pain relief as ‘very good’ (41.4%) or ‘good’ (44.5%). Sleep quality also improved. 48.1% of patients needed no additional analgesics during buprenorphine treatment. Most patients (96%) rated the buprenorphine transdermal patch as ‘very easy’ or ‘easy’ to change. The most common treatment-related reasons for discontinuation were lack of analgesic effect (3.3% of patients) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs, 0.8%). ADRs, all non-serious, occurred in 34 patients (0.8%), most commonly local skin reactions or vomiting. At study end, it was planned to continue treatment with transdermal buprenorphine in 70.1% of patients. The main limitations related to the observational study design, balanced by advantages gained from the ‘real life’ exploration of transdermal buprenorphine use. Conclusions: In routine Polish clinical practice, transdermal buprenorphine was effective and generally well-tolerated in patients with chronic moderate to severe cancer pain or chronic severe non-malignant pain insufficiently controlled by non-opioids.

Transdermal buprenorphine in the treatment of cancer and non-cancer pain - the results of multicenter studies in Poland.

This was a multicenter, non-interventional, post-marketing study that aimed to evaluate the analgesic activity, safety of use, safety profile and adverse drug reactions of transdermal buprenorphine (Transtec 35, 52.5 and 70 μg/h) during the treatment of moderate to severe chronic cancer and non-cancer pain. The study was performed in Poland by 339 doctors. The study involved 4,030 general practice outpatients (managed by primary care physicians), pain therapy center patients, specialist outpatient clinic patients as well as patients treated in inpatients units. The recruitment process began in September of 2007, and the study was completed in October of 2008. The study has been reported to the Central Register of Clinical Trials in Poland; it was also in accordance with the requirements of the Polish Pharmaceutical Law in force. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety of use and application of transdermal buprenorphine in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain and in patients with severe, non-malignant pain in the course of other diseases. Patients were enrolled if their pain was not well-controlled after using non-opioid analgesics. Another objective of the study was to monitor adverse drug reactions of transdermal buprenorphine reported by patients or noted by the doctors during the study visits. This first such multicenter study in Poland has confirmed high efficacy and good tolerability of buprenorphine and, therefore, confirmed its usefulness in the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain as well as in the treatment of severe pain in patients with non-cancer pain that cannot be effectively treated with non-opioid analgesics.

Intravenous lidocaine infusions in a multidirectional model of treatment of neuropathic pain patients

BACKGROUND Neuropathic pain, is caused by damage or disease affecting the somatosensory nervous system, leads to deterioration of the quality of life of patients. Most commonly, this deterioration is due to the inefficacy of treatment or to the adverse effects of systemic treatment. Pharmacotherapy of neuropathic pain involves the use of antiepileptic agents, antidepressants, and opioids that may lead to numerous adverse effects, particularly in elderly patients. Intravenous infusions of lidocaine may improve the efficacy of the analgesic treatment of neuropathic pain patients while not causing any significant adverse effects. METHODS In our study, we carried out a retrospective analysis of 85 patients with various neuropathic pain syndromes. In this group, 81 patients received 3-25 intravenous infusions of lidocaine (5mg/kg of body weight over 30min). In the remaining 4 patients, the treatment was discontinued after the first infusion due to the lack of efficacy. RESULTS The analgesic effect of intravenous lidocaine was better when the intensity of pain experienced before the infusion was high. In addition, better effects were observed in elderly patients. No need to interrupt the infusion occurred in any of the patients. No serious adverse effects were observed either. Transient dizziness, not requiring additional treatment, occurred in 5 patients after the infusion. CONCLUSIONS The best therapeutic effects of lidocaine infusion was observed in pain symptoms characterized by the highest intensity of baseline pain. Intravenous lidocaine administered at the dose of 5mg/kg of body weight over 30min is effective, safe and caused no significant adverse effects.

Bony wall damage in the region of the middle and posterior cranial fossa observed during otosurgery

Summary Background Bony wall damages in the region of the middle and posterior cranial fossa are usually observed in cases of chronic otitis media. These defects can also be congenital, post-traumatic, iatrogenic or due to tumors. They can potentially lead to the development of intracranial complications. Material/Methods We analyzed patients who were diagnosed as having bony wall damage in the region of the middle and/or posterior cranial fossa. We also discuss methods of reconstruction during otosurgery. The analysis involves patients who underwent middle ear operations in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Jagiellonian University of Krakow between 2004 and 2008; 495 otosurgeries were performed during this period of time. Results In 70% of patients the reason for otosurgery was chronic otitis media. In 20%, bone defects occurred simultaneously with otosclerosis. Less than 10% underwent otosurgery for other reasons. Bony wall damage in the region of the middle and posterior cranial fossa were diagnosed in 46 patients who underwent surgery. In patients with bony wall damage, otogenic intracranial complications were described in 14 cases. Conclusions The performed reconstruction methods for bony wall damage, which used the fascia, strengthened with the pedicle muscle flap for larger defects and with either bone lamella or cartilage in specific cases, proved successful. Nearly 80% of bony wall damages in the region of the middle and posterior cranial fossa remain asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally during middle ear surgery. The above observations emphasize the significant role of pre-operative imaging diagnostics.

Non-invasive transcutaneous Supraorbital Neurostimulation (tSNS) using Cefaly® device in prevention of primary headaches

Headaches are one of the most common pain syndromes experienced by adult patients. International Classification of Headache Disorders identifies about 300 different entities. Primary headaches (migraine, tension-type headache, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, other primary headaches) has the common occurrence. Although effective treatment of these disorders is possible, it is inefficient or poorly tolerated in some patients. Neuromodulation methods, being element of multimodal treatment, provide an additional treatment option in pharmacotherapy-refractory patients. Both invasive and non-invasive stimulation methods are used. The non-invasive techniques is transcutaneous nerve stimulation using Cefaly® device. In this study, Cefaly® was used as prevention treatment in patients with pharmacotherapy-refractory headaches. This device is indicated for the prophylactic treatment of episodic primary headaches. A total of 91-patients (30 without and 61 with tSNS) were enrolled in the study, including 60-patients with migraine and 31-patients with other primary headaches. Ten courses of non-invasive peripheral (supraorbitral/supratrochlear) nerves stimulation were delivered to 57-patients; in the remaining 4 patients, the treatment was abandoned due to poor tolerance. Patients were observed for 30 days after stimulation treatment. Compared to the pre-treatment period, the reduction in the intensity of pain was observed in both the migraine group and patients with other types of headaches; this included the number of pain episodes being reduced by half, with simultaneous reduction in average pain intensity and duration of individual pain episodes. The subjective assessment of pain reduction was in the range of 40-47%. Based on our data we recommend tSNS as useful tool in the prophylaxis of primary headaches, including migraine.

Type II tympanoplasty in chronic cholesteatoma and granulomatous otitis media – Distant results of otosurgery

PURPOSE The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of changes to the mucous in the middle ear on the outcome of the reconstruction of the ossicular chain exemplified by a type 2 tympanoplasty. MATERIAL/METHODS A prospective analysis was carried out with regard to patients operated on at the Otolaryngology Department at Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, between 2007 and 2011 due to conditions of the middle ear. The patients who had undergone surgical treatment for the first time because of chronic otitis media were taken into account. The operations involving a type 2 tympanoplasty were earmarked for further analysis. The effectiveness of treatment was measured by the change of the Air-Bone Gap (AGP). RESULTS The analysis covered 47 patients, whose own modeled incuses were placed on normal stapes. The patients were divided into two groups (with and without cholesteatoma). A statistically significant hearing improvement was observed in the patients with cholesteatoma. In the group without cholesteatoma and with a prevalence of granulomatous lesions, no statistically significant hearing improvement was observed 6 and 12 months following the ear surgery. CONCLUSIONS In the patients with cholesteatoma and a minor damage to the ossicular chain, a significant hearing improvement is observed after ossiculoplasty. An occurrence of granulomatous lesions is an unfavorable predictor. The Air-Bone Gap measured before the surgery often does not the actual advancement of the pathological process, and hearing improvement after the surgery cannot be prognosticated on the basis of that amount alone.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and its influence on analgesics effectiveness in patients suffering from migraine headache

BACKGROUND Headache is one of the most common conditions troubling nearly 45% of the worlds population. Migraine headache itself, being more common among women, affects 7-18% of people. As much as 20-30% of the population report accompanying aura and neurological symptoms. In many cases, migraine headache can be effectively treated with suitably selected pharmacotherapies which include drugs used in symptomatic treatment. Frequent occurrence of the condition is treated with prophylaxis, which often fails. Neuromodulating methods are part of the multidirectional treatment and they may be valuable complement to pharmacotherapy. METHODS Our study evaluates the impact of the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the consumption of drugs and on pain conditions (frequency, duration, intensity). We recruited 50 patients with migraine headache (30 with aura, 20 without aura) refractory to pharmacological therapy. In 30 patients (18 with aura, 12 without aura) previous unsatisfactory treatment was supplemented with tDCS performed tenfold. 20 patients (12 with aura, 8 without aura) from a control group were treated with pharmacological methods The observation continued for 30 days after the stimulation. RESULTS After tDCS, a reduction in the consumption of analgesics and triptans was reported. Additionally, we monitored pain intensity decrease during pain episodes, duration of episodes and the number of pain days. The subjective assessment of pain reduction in migraine patients encompassed 36-40% after tDCS much more effective in comparison to group with only pharmacotherapy (10-12.5%). CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that tDCS may be safe and useful clinical tool in migraine prophylaxis and treatment.

Pharmacotherapy of pain in cancer patients– recommendations of the Polish Association for the Studyof Pain, Polish Society of Palliative Medicine, Polish Societyof Oncology, Polish Society of Family Medicine, and PolishSociety of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy

Guidelines for the pharmacotherapy of pain in cancer patients were developed by a group of 21 experts of the Polish Association for the Study of Pain, Polish Society of Palliative Medicine, Polish Society of Oncology, Polish Society of Family Medicine, and Polish Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy. During a series of meetings, the experts carried out an overview of the available literature on the treatment of pain in cancer patients, paying particular attention to systematic reviews and more recent randomized studies not included in the reviews. The search was performed in the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases using such keywords as “pain”, “cancer”, “pharmacotherapy”, “analgesics”, and similar. The overviewed articles included studies of pathomechanisms of pain in cancer patients, methods for the assessment of pain in cancer patients, and drugs used in the pharmacotherapy of pain in cancer patients, including non-opioid analgesics (paracetamol, metamizole, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), opioids (strong and weak), coanalgesics (glucocorticosteroids, α2-adrenergic receptor agonists, NMDA receptor antagonists, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, topical medications) as well as drugs used to reduce the adverse effects of the analgesic treatment and symptoms other than pain in patients subjected to opioid treatment. The principles of opioid rotation and the management of patients with opioidophobia were discussed and recommendations for the management of opioid-induced hyperalgesia were presented. Drugs used in different types of pain experienced by cancer patients, including neuropathic pain, visceral pain, bone pain, and breakthrough pain, were included in the overview. Most common interactions of drugs used in the pharmacotherapy of pain in cancer patients as well as the principles for the pharmacotherapy of pain in cancer patients with organ dysfunctions (circulatory failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,

Analiza czynników mających wpływ na nieprawidłowy wynik emisji otoakustycznej u niemowląt

INTRODUCTION Otoacoustic emissions are routine diagnostics in hearing examination of newborns. Lack of right responses in DPOAE is an indication to father diagnostic procedures to know the reason and institute treatment. AIM The aim of this paper is analysis of hearing impairment factors in children which are treated in the audiological out-patients ward. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed retrospectively 168 consecutive children in which diagnostic of hearing apparatus was perform in the first year of life. Children were divided into three groups: with bilateral lack of otoacoustic emissions in newborn ward, with unilateral lack of otoacoustic emissions in newborn ward and with right responses in otoacoustic emissions but with presence of risk factors of hearing impairment in history. RESULTS In 36 cases results of screening otoacoustic emissions was wrong. Unilateral disturbance of this examination was observed in 24 cases and bilateral in 12 cases. 132 children have right responses in otoacoustic emissions but risk factors of hearing impairment were present. CONCLUSIONS 1. Immaturity, low birthweight and therapy in intensive care ward are important reasons of disturbance in otoacoustic emissions. 2. Administration of ototoxic medications in pregnancy is the most common risk factor of hearing impairment in children.