January 27, 2013
December 26, 2012
June 26, 2012
June 19, 2012
The proportion of patients older than age 65 with cancer who have an opioid prescription appears to be low, according to Canadian investigators. About 33% of elderly patients did not have an opioid prescription in the analysis, but the proportion of patients with an opioid prescription increased as pain score severity increased.…
April 3, 2012
February 28, 2012
January 4, 2012
The United States is experiencing a significant public health threat from overdose deaths involving prescription opioids for the treatment of pain. The number of fatal outcomes involving opioid analgesics more than tripled in the last decade (Figure). “The reasons for increased mortality relating to opioid prescriptions are multifactorial,” says Lynn R.…
November 15, 2011
The American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting, Anesthesiology 2011, held on October 15-19 in Chicago, was a comprehensive education program in anesthesiology, focusing on transforming patient safety through science and innovation. The news items below highlight just some of the studies that emerged from the meeting.…
October 3, 2011
February 2, 2010
More than 25 million Americans experience acute pain each year as a result of injuries or surgery, and it’s the most common reason people seek medical attention. Several classes of medications—particularly opioids—have been historically used to treat moderate-to-severe pain, but the adverse effects of these medications can be difficult for patients to endure.…
