BackgroundTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) causes extensive tissue damage and severe pain. This study aimed to assess the analgesic efficacy, adverse effects (AEs), and safety of continuous intravenous (iv) oxycodone infusion with ketoprofen (injected into the iv line) in patients after THA, and to assay serum oxycodone levels.Patients and methodsFourteen patients, aged 59‒82 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I or III, underwent THA with intrathecal analgesia and sedation induced by iv propofol. After the surgery, oxycodone (continuous iv infusion) at a dose of 1 mg/h (five patients) or 2 mg/h (nine patients) with 100 mg ketoprofen (injected into the iv line) was administered to each patient every 12 h. Pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS: 0 – no pain, 10 – the most severe pain) at rest and during movement. AEs, including hemodynamic unsteadiness, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, cognitive impairment, and respiratory depression, were registered during the first 24 h after surgery.ResultsOxycodone (continuous iv infusion) at a dose of 2 mg/h with ketoprofen (100 mg) administered every 12 h provided satisfactory analgesia in all nine patients without the need of rescue analgesics within the first 24 h after THA. In three out of five patients, oxycodone at 1 mg/h was effective. Oxycodone did not induce drowsiness, vomiting, pruritus, respiratory depression, or changes in blood pressure. Bradycardia appeared in two patients, and nausea was observed in one patient.ConclusionOxycodone infusion with ketoprofen administered by iv is effective in patients after THA. Intravenous infusion of oxycodone is a predictable, stable, and safe method of drug administration.

Background and objectivesOxycodone is poorly studied as an adjuvant to central blockades. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oxycodone hydrochloride in epidural blockade among patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).Patients and methodsIn 11 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system II/III, age range: 59–82 years), THA was conducted with an epidural blockade using 15 mL 0.25% bupivacaine (37.5 mg) with 5 mg oxycodone hydrochloride and sedation with propofol infusion at a dose of 3–5 mg/kg/h. After the surgery, patients received ketoprofen at a dose of 100 mg twice daily. In the first 24 hours postoperative period, pain was assessed by numerical rating scale at rest and on movement; adverse effects (AEs) were recorded; and plasma concentrations of oxycodone, noroxycodone, and bupivacaine were measured.ResultsThe administration of epidural oxycodone at a dose of 5 mg in patients undergoing THA provided analgesia for a mean time of 10.3±4.89 h. In one patient, mild pruritus was observed. Oxycodone did not evoke other AEs. Plasma concentrations of oxycodone while preserving analgesia were >2.9 ng/mL. Noroxycodone concentrations in plasma did not guarantee analgesic effect.ConclusionThe administration of epidural oxycodone at a dose of 5 mg prolongs the analgesia period to ~10 hours in patients after THA. Oxycodone may evoke pruritus. A 5 mg dose of oxycodone hydrochloride used in an epidural blockade seems to be a safe drug in patients after THA.

Thoracic injuries are usually caused by penetrating or blunt trauma. The primary method of treatment is surgery. This study describes two cases of male patients with stab wounds of the chest resulting from suicide attempts. The first case involved a 29-year-old patient transported and admitted to the hospital with a knife still in his chest; its blade extended from the jugular notch to the 5th thoracic vertebra but did not damage any important structures. The applied treatment, limited to evacuating the knife, resulted in a satisfactory outcome, and the patient was discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) in good condition. The second patient reached the hospital on his own. On admission, he did not reveal the real cause of the wound; however, in view of his deteriorating condition, he admitted that the knife penetrated deeply into the mediastinum. In this case, sternotomy was necessary to stop the bleeding of the pulmonary trunk and internal thoracic artery. After completion of treatment, the patient was discharged in good condition. The described management of life-threatening situations conducted by a multidisciplinary team of consultants enabled the choice of optimal treatment methods and resulted in successful outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the analgesic efficacy and safety of 1 mg and 0.5 mg oxycodone administration in a spinal block procedure for a total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients and methods: Forty–two THA patients aged 59–81 with American Society Anesthesiology (ASA) II–III were included. All patients received anesthesia using spinal blockade, with bupivacaine 0.5% spinal heavy 2.5 ml, with 0.5 ml oxycodone hydrochloride 1.0 mg (group A; n = 28) or 0.5 mg (group B; n = 14). During surgery, each patient was sedated with 2–4 mg/kg/h intravenous propofol infusion. They received 100 mg intravenous ketoprofen at the end of the surgery at 8 pm and 8 am, with recommended doses every 12 h thereafter. Subcutaneous morphine 5 mg was used as a rescue analgesic, and the time to morphine use was recorded. After surgery, pain intensity (at the moment of patient report) was assessed using an 11–point numerical rating scale (NRS). The incidence of adverse effects was monitored. Blood samples were taken for assays of serum oxycodone, noroxycodone and bupivacaine levels. Results: The time to rescue analgesia was 9.6 ± 5.6 h in group A and 7.3 ± 1.9 h in group B, and it did not differ between patient groups (P = 0.179). The mean NRS pain score was 4.5 in group A and 4.2 in group B. Three group A patients had detectable oxycodone levels: two < 7.1 ng/ml and in 1 spinal block induced anesthesia was unsuccessful and so underwent general anesthesia (this patient was excluded from the analysis). Four group B patients had single values < 5 ng/ml. Noroxycodone levels were in all patients undetectable, and bupivacaine levels were 70–300 ng/ml. Regarding adverse effects, one patient had hypotension, one had bradycardia, and one had pruritus. Conclusions: Oxycodone in spinal block prolongs analgesia period, does not cause serious adverse effects and seems to be safe and effective opioid for patients undergoing THA.

Introduction. Pre-and postgraduate education, provided for many years, has quite significantly changed the perception of the role of opioids in the treatment of patients with pain, mainly chronic pain. However, research on the knowledge of students on opioids has not been conducted, which makes it difficult to implement desired changes in educational programmes. The aim of the paper was to evaluate the knowledge of medical students on selected opioid drugs: tramadol, buprenorphine and oxycodone, based on a survey filled in after one-week classes in palliative medicine and pain management. Respondents and methods. The study included 140 fourth-year students of medicine at the University of Medical Sciences in Poznań who completed one-week classes in palliative medicine and pain management. Their knowledge on opioid analgesics was checked using an anonymous survey that included 7 statements. Results. Students demonstrated better knowledge in statements regarding theoretical aspects of the use of specific opioids and their mechanisms of action. The percentage of correct answers in the group of statements concerning the availability of specific opioid analgesics was much lower, which confirms that they have less knowledge in this area. Conclusions. Paying attention to the characteristics of specific opioids should improve the individual selection, effectiveness and safety of treatment. Better knowledge on pain management among students, doctors and the general public may dispel their concerns about using opioid analgesics as well as increase the effectiveness of pain management and improve the quality of life of patients with cancer and chronic pain in palliative care.