Search

Background: Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), a toxin of the anaerobic spore-forming bacterium Clostridium botulinum is used as a drug for alleviating muscle spasticity. Other indications include the cosmetic application in facial muscles, hyperhidrosis and neurogenic bladder disorders. It has been approved since 2010 as the first prophylactic treatment for chronic migraine. The analgesic effect of BoNT was observed early on and is currently the subject of intensive research. Painful postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication of an infection with herpes zoster virus. Despite modern treatment algorithms and medication, satisfactory pain treatment is not achieved in all patients. The use of BoNT could represent a new treatment option., Aim: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current evidence for the use of BoNT for postherpetic neuralgia., Material and Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search with the keywords "botulinum" and "neuropathic" and included original articles in which BoNT was used subcutaneously or intradermally for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia., Results: The initial search yielded 212 results. After a title and abstract screening, the number was reduced to 11 relevant publications (5 case reports or series and 6 prospective studies)., Discussion: The results in the currently available literature show that BoNT is an effective therapeutic option for postherpetic neuralgia. In all studies, a significant effect on the pain and also on relevant patient-oriented secondary variables, such as the quality of life and especially the quality of sleep was shown. The only reported side effect was pain during administration.

Background: Pain clinics provide interdisciplinary therapy to treat chronic pain patients and to increase the return-to-work rate. In recent years and due to increased economic pressure in health care, a change in the management of pain in Austrian health care centers has been observed. For the analysis of the current situation, two surveys addressing all Austrian pain clinics were performed., Materials and Methods: In total, 133 heads of Austrian Anesthesia Departments were interviewed online and personally. The data from the first interview were confirmed by an additional telephone survey that was performed by one anesthetist per Austrian state (n = 9)., Results: Currently, 44 Austrian pain clinics are active. During the last 5 years, 9 pain clinics closed. Adding the current active pain clinics together, they represent a total of 17.5 full-time-operated clinics. The most common reasons for closing the pain clinics were lack of personnel (47%), lack of time resources (26%), lack of space resources (11%), and financial difficulties (11%). A reduction of >50% of operating hours during the last 3 years was reported by 9 hospitals. The reasons for not running a pain clinic were lack of personnel (36%), lack of time (25%) and department too small (16%). Estimates between actual and required clinics indicate that 49.5 full-time-operating pain clinics are lacking in Austria, resulting in 74% of the Austrian chronic pain patients not receiving interdisciplinary pain management., Conclusion: Our survey confirmed the closure of 9 pain clinics during the last 5 years due to lack of personnel and time. Pain clinics appear to provide the simplest economic saving potential. This development is a major concern. Although running a pain clinic seems to be expensive at the first sight, it reduces pain, sick leave, complications, and potential legal issues against health care centers, while simultaneously increasing the hospital's competitiveness. Our results show that 74% of Austrian chronic pain patients do not have access to an interdisciplinary pain clinic. Because of plans to further economize resources, Austria may lose its ability to provide state-of-the-art pain therapy and management.

Background: The Department of Neurology at the Medical University Graz has implemented a multiprofessional pain management concept and evaluated the outcome by means of a patient survey., Methods: Standard operating procedures for standardised pain measurement, documentation and therapy were developed. All engaged professional participants were trained before implementation., Results: 88.7 % of the surveyed 63 patients reported pain during the hospitalisation. During the night and in the morning, the occurrence of severe pain was most likely. The position or activity most likely triggering severe pain was mobilisation (19 %). Patients with degenerative diseases of the spine without radiculopathy reported the highest levels of pain., Conclusions: Pain is an important problem for neurological inpatients. Nocturnal pain, pain induced by mobilisation, and pain therapy for patients with degenerative diseases of the spine without radiculopathy require particular attention., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a latent, autosomal dominant inherited syndrome of skeletal musculature which results in excessive hypermetabolism induced by halogenated anesthetic agents and depolarizing muscle relaxants and is caused by an uncontrolled intramuscular calcium release. This case report focuses on the description of symptoms of a fulminant MH crisis. A possible link between central core disease (CCD) and the clinical severity of MH crisis is postulated in this paper.

Recent literature demonstrates that pain in patients with dementia is often undertreated. This can partially be explained by a lack of training in the possibilities of assessing pain in patients with dementia. Subjective reports are the most valid approach for the assessment of the subjective experience of pain and should therefore be preferred over other methods. The assessment of the context, behavior, and physiological markers is advised if the patient is unable to provide a subjective report. Pain assessment scales are useful for documentation and monitoring.