We aimed to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and impact of breakthrough pain (BTP) in patients with cancer attending the main specialties involved in the diagnosis and management of BTP in Spain using a multicenter, observational, cross-sectional, multidisciplinary study. Investigators had to record all patients seen at the clinic during 1 month, determine whether the patients had cancer pain, and apply the Davies algorithm to ascertain whether the patients were suffering from BTP. Of the 3,765 patients with cancer, 1,117 (30%) had cancer-related pain, and of these patients, 539 had BTP (48%, 95%CI:45–51). The highest prevalence was found in patients from palliative care (61%, 95%CI:54–68), and the lowest was found in those from hematology (25%, 95%CI:20–31). Prevalence varied also according to sex and type of tumor. According to the Alberta Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool duration, timing, frequency, location, severity, quality, causes, and predictability of the BTP varied greatly among these patients. BTP was moderate (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI]-severity median score = 5.3), and pain interference was moderate (BPI-interference median score = 6.1) with a greater interference with normal work, general activity, and enjoyment of life. Patients with BTP showed a mean ± standard deviation score of 28.5 ± 8.0 and 36.9 ± 9.5 in the physical and mental component, respectively, of the SF-12 questionnaire. In conclusion, prevalence of BTP among patients exhibiting cancer-related pain is high. Clinical presentation is heterogeneous, and therefore, BTP cannot be considered as a single entity. However, uniformly BTP has an important impact on a patient’s functionality, which supports the need for early detection and treatment.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is multifactorial condition with complex pathogenesis characterized by spontaneous or stimulus-induced pain that is disproportionate to the inciting event. It is also commonly accompanied by a myriad of autonomic and motor disturbances in highly variable combinations. This condition has been underreported in children until recently. Consequently, the management of CRPS in the pediatric population presents an even greater challenge than in adults, partly because there is a lack of clinical data concerning the efficacy of the diverse treatment methods available, and partly because successful treatment of CRPS involves a multidisciplinary approach. In this retrospective case series, a multidisciplinary management plan is presented in 10 children for whom the standard noninvasive treatment was unsuccessful. Within this management plan, novel drugs were included such as the capsaicin 8% patch, in addition to invasive techniques in patients who did not respond to noninvasive therapies.

Introduction: The IASP defined CRPS as "pain box disproportionate to the cause that produces it, accompanied by sensory disturbances such as allodynia/hyperalgesia, autonomic and motor dysfunction that occurs after a trauma that often is trivial andi s presents ussually a limb". These symptoms are well described in adults, but there are few data on the prevalence in the pediatric population. Unlike the adult, 90% of cases occur in girls aged between 8-16 years with involvement mainly of a lower limb. Materials and methods: We present a total of two patients, aged 11 and 13 years old with severe symptoms of lower extremity CRPS, previously treated with medication and rehabilitation without relief from their symptoms. In the two patients underwent continuous lumbar sympathetic block by placing on epidural catheter and administration of a continuous infusión of local anesthetic, so the patient improved both pain and the resto f the accompanying symptoms. Was implanted in the operating room under general anesthesia octupole electrode starting at dorsal epidural electrical stimulation of the affected limb. In the two patients was evaluated both the evolution of the intensity of pain and its impacto n quality of life befote the Honest of stimulation and within two weeks of starting treatment, at which time it terminated the period of proceeded to test the implementation (in the operating room under general anesthesic) programmable generator.

Background:The IASP defined complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) as "a variety of painful conditions of regional location alter a injury with distal predominance of abnormal symptoms, exceeding in magnitude and duration the expected clinical course of the initial incident, often rausing significant motor impairment, with variable progression over time".CRPS is characterized by severe pain, accompanied by other symptoms among which allodynia. It is a well-defined clinical entity in adults, but until recently lie doubted his presence in children and adolescents, today fully accepted this fact.Presents some differences with adult CRPS, including that is more common in girls and affects mainly the lower extremities.Case reports: Nine children (five boys and four girls) aged between 8 and 13 years old diagnosed with CRPS, the trigger box has been in most patients for the presence of mild trauma. All patients are subject to the same treatment algorithm: a) Drug tretment and rehabilitative therapy associated with the application of the capsaicin patch 8 %; and b) interventional techniques (epidural infusion of local anesthetic and/or electrical stimulation spinal cord) in patients whose relief is not adequate.The complete remission was obtained in nine patients using the treatment algorithm.Discussion: The diagnosis of CRPS should be done as early as possible which will allow initiation of treatment also is.While most children will respond to conventional treatment, there are cases where they are given the use of interventional techniques.

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