The approach provides a good alternative technique for the treatment of low pelvic and perineal cancer-related pain. Additional studies are required for evaluation and refinement of the technique using other radiological techniques.

Background and objectivesMajor abdominal cancer surgeries are associated with significant perioperative mortality and morbidity due to myocardial ischemia and infarction. This study examined the effect of perioperative patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on occurrence of ischemic cardiac injury in ischemic patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery.Patients and methodsOne hundred and twenty patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade II and III) of either sex were scheduled for elective upper gastrointestinal cancer surgeries. Patients were allocated randomly into two groups (60 patients each) to receive, besides general anesthesia: continuous intra and postoperative intravenous (IV) infusion with fentanyl for 72 h postoperatively (patient controlled intravenous analgesia [PCIA] group) or continuous intra and postoperative epidural infusion with bupivacaine 0.125% and fentanyl (PCEA group) for 72 h postoperatively. Perioperative hemodynamics were recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed over 72 h using visual analog scale (VAS). All patients were screened for occurrence of myocardial injury (MI) by electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac troponin I serum level. Other postoperative complications as arrhythmia, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and death were recorded.ResultsThere was a significant reduction in overall adverse cardiac events (myocardial injury, arrhythmias, angina, heart failure and nonfatal cardiac arrest) in PCEA group in comparison to PCIA group. Also, there was a significant reduction in dynamic VAS pain score in group PCEA in comparison to PCIA at all measured time points. Regarding perioperative hemodynamics, there was a significant reduction in intra-operative mean arterial pressure (MAP); and heart rate in PCEA group in comparison to PCIA group at most of measured time points while there was not a significant reduction in postoperative MAP and heart rate in the second and third postoperative days. The incidence of other postoperative complications such as DVT, pneumonia and in hospital mortality were decreased in PCEA group.ConclusionPerioperative thoracic epidural analgesia in patients suffering from coronary artery disease subjected to major abdominal cancer surgery reduced significantly postoperative major adverse cardiac events with better pain control in comparison with perioperative IV analgesia.

BACKGROUND : Transdermal therapeutic system fentanyl with a drug release rate of 12 µg/h should be of special value in pediatric cancer pain control. Such a fentanyl formulation allows for a stepwise dose increase, similar to that reported for sustained-release morphine. PATIENTS AND METHODS : Sixty-four male and female pediatric patients with moderate to severe chronic cancer pain, ages ranging 2-14 years, were included. Patients did not receive opioids prior to enrollment. Patients were observed for pain relief using the Visual Analog Scale and the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, play performance score, and for side effects. RESULTS : There was significant improvement of visual analog scale and FACES pain scores from the baseline to the second day of application (P < 0.001). By the 15th day, scores reached 1.18 ± 0.393 and 1.13 ± 0.35, respectively (P < 0.001). Play performance scale improved from the third day of application of the patch when compared with the baseline (P < 0.001), reaching 55.02 ± 8.35 (P < 0.001) at the end of the study. The sedation score increased on the second day to 2 in 10 patients and to 3 in 54 patients. By the seventh day, 56 patients had a sedation score of 1. All patients returned to baseline by the 15th day. Itching was reported in 16 cases, and erythema occurred in 10 cases. No significant side effects were reported. CONCLUSION : Transdermal fentanyl was found to be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for pediatric cancer-related pain in opioid-naive patients with chronic moderate to severe pain. In this study population, evaluation of vital signs and physical examination did not suggest any safety concerns while using transdermal fentanyl.

Background and Objectives: Major gastrointestinal cancer surgeries are associated with significant perioperative mortality and morbidity due to increased incidence of major perioperative cardiovascular event (MACEs). This study examined the effect of perioperative patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on reduction of MACEs in cardiac risky patients undergoing major gastrointestinal cancer surgery.Methods: 60 patients (ASA II and III) of either sex were scheduled for elective Upper gastrointestinal cancer surgeries. Patients were allocated randomly into two groups (30 patients each) to receive, beside GA: continuous intra and post -operative intravenous infusion with fentanyl for 72 hours post-operatively (control group) or continuous intra and post -operative epidural infusion with bupivacaine 0.125% and fentanyl (TEA group) for 72 hours post-operatively Intra-operative and post operative (HR and MAP) were recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed over 72 h using numerical rating scale (NRS). All patients were screened for occurrence of MACEs by ECG and echocardiography. And other postoperative complications and duration of ICU stay were recorded.Results: There was a significant decrease in the incidence of MACEs with less pain scores in patients of TEA group in comparison to control group. Postoperative complications were comparable in both groups. Conclusion:Perioperative PCEA in cardiac risky patients subjected to major gastrointestinal cancer surgery reduced significantly postoperative major adverse cardiac events with better pain control in comparison with perioperative PCIA analgesia.

Background: Pediatric patients have remained undertreated for postoperative pain because of the difficulty of pain assessment and apprehension. Intrathecal opioids-including morphine-have become a popular method for providing post-operative analgesia in children. Objectives: To compare different doses of morphine via intrathecal route (2 μg/kg, 5 μg/kg, and 10 μg/kg) for post-operative analgesia in pediatric patients following for abdominal neuroblastoma surgery. Methods: This randomized, double-blinded, study was approved by local ethics committee of South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut-Egypt, and registered at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ at no.: "NCT03158584". Forty-five patients scheduled for surgical excision of abdominal neuroblastoma were divided into 3 groups (15 patients each); group (I): received intrathecal morphine 2 μg/kg added to normal saline (3 mL volume). Group (II): received intrathecal morphine 5 μg/kg. Group (III): received intrathecal morphine 10 μg/kg. Intra-, and post-operative hemodynamics, FLACC score, time to first request of rescue analgesia, total analgesic consumption, and side effects were recorded for 24 hours. Results: there was a significant reduction in FLACC score in groups II and III starting immediately till 24 hours postoperatively compared to group I (P < 0.05). None of the patients in groups II and III (n = 15 each), while all the patients in group I (n = 15) required postoperative rescue analgesia. In group (I), time to first request of rescue analgesia, cumulative perfalgan, and fentanyl consumptions were 5.47 ± 1.60 hours, 613 ± 182.92 mg, and 10.37 ± 3.78 µg respectively. There was no significant difference among groups regarding postoperative sedation (P > 0.05). No significant difference was observed between groups in side effects.