Pain
Feature
Palliative care update highlights role of nonspecialists
The latest guideline revision aims to establish a foundation for “gold-standard” palliative care.
Conference Coverage
Post-mastectomy pain strategy allows for safe, same-day discharge
Strategy offers the potential to minimize inpatient admissions while decreasing oral narcotic use.
From the Journals
Opioid use cut nearly 50% for urologic oncology surgery patients
Postoperative opioid use dropped after changing default order sets, introducing new patient communication strategies, and educating providers.
Conference Coverage
Low-dose ketamine controls pain from severe chest injury, while sparing opioid consumption
SAN DIEGO – The drug may have a benefit among patients whose Injury Severity Score was greater than 15.
Latest News
House, Senate agree on broad opioid legislation
Huge bill to address the opioid epidemic contains many provisions that will affect physicians.
Conference Coverage
Opioids don’t treat pain better than ibuprofen after venous ablation surgery
Those who took ibuprofen to control postsurgical pain fared just as well.
Conference Coverage
Signs point to growing abuse of gabapentinoids in the U.S.
LAS VEGAS – Several states have made gabapentin a Schedule V controlled substance while others have mandatory reporting of its dispensing and...
News from the FDA/CDC
FDA issues new REMS for immediate-release opioids
For the first time, training will be made available to health care providers, nurses, and pharmacists involved in pain management.
Conference Coverage
More than half of urine drug screens showed improper medication use
LAS VEGAS – One sample in every five showed a combination of opioids and benzodiazepines, at least one of which was an unprescribed medication.
Clinical Review
The Cold, Hard Facts of Cryotherapy in Orthopedics
FDA/CDC
FDA warns kratom vendors about unproven claims
The substance is already outlawed in several countries and banned in some states.