Risk factors and events in the adult ICU associated with pain as self-reported at the end of the intensive care unit stay

Risk factors and events in the adult ICU associated with pain as self-reported at the end of the intensive care unit stay

The short-term and long-term consequences of the most frequent painful procedures performed in the ICU are unclear. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with pain-related discomfort perceived by critically... read more

PEM Playbook – Pediatric Pain

PEM Playbook – Pediatric Pain

Pain is multifactorial: it is comprised of physical, psychological, emotional, cultural, and contextual features. In children often the predominant feature may not be initially apparent.  Although clinicians may focus on... read more

ED Evaluation and Management of Non-Obstetric Abdominal Pain in the Pregnant Patient

ED Evaluation and Management of Non-Obstetric Abdominal Pain in the Pregnant Patient

A 27-year-old G4P2 female at 25-weeks gestation presents to the emergency department with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. The pain began yesterday and was initially a generalized discomfort that localized to the right... read more

Core Curriculum for Pain Management Nursing

Core Curriculum for Pain Management Nursing

Learn how to successfully work with patients in pain with The Core Curriculum for Pain Management Nursing, 3rd Edition. Written by the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (the primary nursing organization in pain... read more

Substituting Acetaminophen for Fentanyl Feasible in PCI for STEMI

Substituting Acetaminophen for Fentanyl Feasible in PCI for STEMI

In patients with STEMI given crushed ticagrelor before PCI, using IV acetaminophen instead of IV fentanyl as a painkiller did not increase pain levels or platelet reactivity and prevented delay of ticagrelor's effects, researchers... read more

Is Locoregional Anesthesia a Functional Option for Major Abdominal Surgeries in the COVID-19 Era?

Is Locoregional Anesthesia a Functional Option for Major Abdominal Surgeries in the COVID-19 Era?

Based on our preliminary case series, awake open surgery has resulted feasible and safe. This approach has allowed to perform undelayable major abdominal surgeries on fragile patients when intensive care beds were not available.... read more

Sudden Abdominal Pain with a Palpable Mass

Sudden Abdominal Pain with a Palpable Mass

Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) is a rare cause of abdominal pain that is often overlooked when patients present for evaluation. The disease can mimic almost any other type of abdominal pathology, and thus the diagnosis is frequently... read more

A Prospective Observational Study of High-Dose Intrathecal Diamorphine in Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

A Prospective Observational Study of High-Dose Intrathecal Diamorphine in Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

We have demonstrated that neuraxial blockade is a simple, practical, and feasible technique to adopt. Our case series demonstrated a high level of patient acceptability. 50 patients were included. 11 patients (22%) had... read more

The ABCDE Bundle Associated with Significant Reductions in Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

The ABCDE Bundle Associated with Significant Reductions in Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

The focus on long-term consequences of critical illness has intensified with increasing ICU utilization and survivorship. Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is increasingly recognized and has profound and long-lasting negative... read more

Critical Care Opioids Impact in the 21st Century

Critical Care Opioids Impact in the 21st Century

Critical Care is impacted by opioids in multiple ways. Not only do they form the backbone of managing pain and sedation in the intensive care unit (ICU), the burgeoning opioid epidemic also feeds into opioid-related ICU admissions.... read more

Sedation and Analgesia in the ICU

Sedation and Analgesia in the ICU

Sedation and analgesia have high importance in patient-centered care. Patients in the ICU are seriously ill and often suffer from anxiety, agitation, and pain. There is sometimes a need to use deep and prolonged sedation,... read more

Assessment of Variability in End-of-Life Care Delivery in ICUs in the United States

Assessment of Variability in End-of-Life Care Delivery in ICUs in the United States

This study suggests most decedents in the ICU avoid CPR at EOL, have family present at their bedside, and are closely assessed for pain. However, the delivery of EOL care varies widely among units in the United States, including... read more

No Reason to Choose Tramadol over Morphine

No Reason to Choose Tramadol over Morphine

Tramadol is an opioid, but it does not bind directly to opioid receptors (or it binds so weakly that it might as well not bind at all). Its opioid action is the result of the metabolite O-desmethyltramadol, which means... read more

Potential Mechanisms Underlying Centralized Pain and Emerging Therapeutic Interventions

Potential Mechanisms Underlying Centralized Pain and Emerging Therapeutic Interventions

Centralized pain syndromes are associated with changes within the central nervous system that amplify peripheral input and/or generate the perception of pain in the absence of a noxious stimulus. Examples of idiopathic... read more