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Background In women undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia with intrathecal morphine, transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with bupivacaine hydrochloride (HCl) may not improve postsurgical analgesia. This lack of benefit could be related to the short duration of action of bupivacaine HCl. A retrospective study reported that TAP block with long-acting liposomal bupivacaine (LB) reduced opioid consumption and improved analgesia following cesarean delivery. Therefore, we performed a prospective multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial examining efficacy and safety of TAP block with LB plus bupivacaine HCl versus bupivacaine HCl alone. Methods Women (n = 186) with term pregnancies undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were randomized (1:1) to TAP block with LB 266 mg plus bupivacaine HCl 50 mg or bupivacaine HCl 50 mg alone. Efficacy was evaluated in a protocol-compliant analysis (PCA) set that was defined a priori. The primary end point was total postsurgical opioid consumption (oral morphine equivalent dosing [MED]) through 72 hours. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale. Adverse events (AEs) after treatment were recorded through day 14. Results Total opioid consumption through 72 hours was reduced with LB plus bupivacaine HCl versus bupivacaine HCl alone (least squares mean [LSM] [standard error (SE)] MED, 15.5 mg [6.67 mg] vs 32.0 mg [6.25 mg]). This corresponded to an LSM treatment difference of -16.5 mg (95% confidence interval [CI], -30.8 to -2.2 mg; P = .012). The area under the curve of imputed pain intensity scores through 72 hours supported noninferiority of LB plus bupivacaine HCl versus bupivacaine HCl alone (LSM [SE], 147.9 [21.13] vs 178.5 [19.78]; LSM treatment difference, -30.6; 95% CI, -75.9 to 14.7), with a prespecified noninferiority margin of 36 (P = .002). In an analysis of all treated patients, including those not meeting criteria for inclusion in the PCA, there was no difference in postsurgical opioid consumption between groups. In the LB plus bupivacaine HCl group, 63.6% of patients experienced an AE after treatment versus 56.2% in the bupivacaine HCl-alone group. Serious AEs after treatment were rare (≈3% in both groups). Conclusions TAP block using LB plus bupivacaine HCl as part of a multimodal analgesia protocol incorporating intrathecal morphine resulted in reduced opioid consumption after cesarean delivery in the PCA set. Results suggest that with correct TAP block placement and adherence to a multimodal postsurgical analgesic regimen, there is an opioid-reducing benefit of adding LB to bupivacaine TAP blocks after cesarean delivery (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03176459).

Study Design. Secondary analysis of data from a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Objective. To identify mediators of the effect of lumbar epidural injections of corticosteroid plus lidocaine on patient satisfaction at 6 weeks postinjection in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. We hypothesized that short-term (≤3 wk) change in leg pain would be a significant mediator of satisfaction. Summary of Background Data. No prior studies have identified mediators of effects of epidural injections on patient satisfaction with treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods. We used mediation analysis methods to examine selected intermediate variables (adverse events and change in leg pain, back pain, disability, depression, and fatigue at 3 wk) as potential mediators of the effect of lumbar epidural injections of corticosteroid plus lidocaine on patient satisfaction with treatment. We used the overall satisfaction item from the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire as our primary outcome to measure patient satisfaction with the injection procedure at 6 weeks. Results. Among 400 patients randomized to receive epidural injections with corticosteroid plus lidocaine or with lidocaine alone, 369 had complete data for the satisfaction outcome and potential mediators and served as the analysis sample. Contrary to our expectations, 3-week change in leg pain intensity did not have significant mediation effects on patient satisfaction. Three-week change in disability as measured by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire was a significant mediator of the effects of lumbar epidural corticosteroid injections on patient satisfaction at 6 weeks, explaining 48% to 60% of the treatment effect on satisfaction. Changes in pain intensity in the leg and back together explained very little of the treatment effect on satisfaction beyond the information contributed by disability change alone. We did not find other intermediate variables to be mediators of patient satisfaction. Conclusion. These findings support the current approach of examining disability as a primary patient-reported outcome in comparative effectiveness studies of lumbar spinal stenosis. Conclusion. Level of Evidence: 2

We report a previously undescribed complication associated with percutaneous maxillary nerve blockade. After the procedure, the patient reported an inability to close her ipsilateral eye (lagophthalmos). The patient had received 5 mL of 0.5% lidocaine for skin anesthesia. After needle placement was confirmed fluoroscopically, a combination of 80 mg methylprednisolone (2 mL) and 0.25% bupivacaine (3 mL) was administered. Symptoms resolved within 40 minutes. The likely cause was local anesthetic effect on the zygomatic branches of the facial nerve. When subcutaneous local anesthetic is given for maxillary block, smaller volumes should be considered. Doctors and patients should be aware of this complication, which may require treatment with artificial tears or patching of the eye to prevent corneal injury.

Nociceptive pain and its emotional component can result in the development of a "chronic pain memory". This report describes two patients who had long histories of chronic pain and opioid dependence. Both patients experienced sudden memory loss that was followed by significant pain reduction and an eradication of their need for opioid management. Neural centers involved in sensory pain, its affective component, opioid dependence, and memory overlap in the brain and share common pathways. The anterior cingulate cortex, the insular cortex, and the amygdala are examples of regions implicated in both pain and memory. One of the patients in the report experienced multiple seizure episodes, which may have contributed to memory loss and pain relief. The role of electroconvulsive therapy as it relates to amnesia and pain is reviewed. Questions are raised regarding whether therapies that address the memory component of pain may have a role in the treatment of long-term chronic pain patients.

To examine the incidence of abnormal urine toxicology screening among chronic pain patients prescribed opioids for their pain and to relate these results to patient descriptors and type, number, and dose of prescribed opioids.A retrospective analysis of data from 470 patients who had urine screening at a pain management program in an urban teaching hospital was performed. Urine samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Patients were categorized as having urine screens that were "normal" (expected findings based on their prescribed drugs) or abnormal. Abnormal findings were those of (1) absence of a prescribed opioid, (2) presence of an additional nonprescribed controlled substance, (3) detection of an illicit substance, and (4) an adulterated urine sample.Forty-five percent of the patients were found to have abnormal urine screens. Twenty percent were categorized as having an illicit substance in their urine. Illicit substances and additional drugs were found more frequently in younger patients than in older patients (P0.001). No other variables were found to predict abnormal urine screen results.These results confirm past findings that random urine toxicology screens among patients prescribed opioids for pain reveal a high incidence of abnormal findings. Common patient descriptors, and number, type, and dose of prescribed opioids were found to be poor predictors of abnormal results.

Conditions described as "erythromelalgia" and "erythermalgia" are being formally specified by etiological diagnoses that enable the use of disease-modifying as well as symptomatic treatments. We describe an otherwise healthy 20-year-old man with acute-onset erythromelalgia. Severe bilateral distal limb pain and vasodilation persisted despite the use of many antihyperalgesics. Pathological examination of cutaneous nerve endings revealed severe small-fiber predominant axonopathy. Treatment of his apparent autoimmune polyneuropathy with high dose corticosteroids, 4 days of lidocaine infusion, and a prednisone taper cured him. Similarities to other cases allowed us to tentatively characterize a new treatable cause of erythromelalgia; acute adolescent autoimmune small-fiber axonopathy. In this report we evaluate various options for diagnosis and treatment.

Electronic data collection for monitoring pain has become increasingly popular in clinical research. However, no direct comparison has been made between electronic diaries and self-report paper diaries or phone interviews. We asked 36 patients with chronic low back pain to monitor their pain for 1 year; 20 of them used both a palmtop computer and paper diaries, and 16 used paper diaries alone. All patients were called once a week and asked to rate their pain. Regression analyses with a measurement error model were run on hourly pain scores recorded by both palmtop computer and paper diaries. Ratings of pain intensity were highly reliable between data recorded with a palmtop computer and with data from paper diaries. Patients who monitored their pain with the palmtop computer entered data on average 6.75 times a week and were 89.9% compliant with daily monitoring throughout the year. Two-way messaging available through the palmtop computer seemed to encourage continued use of the device. Internal consistency of reporting and correlations with phone reports and standardized measures were highly significant, suggesting that data from electronic diaries are both reliable and valid. Patients using electronic diaries preferred them to paper diaries and showed much higher rates of compliance and satisfaction over the 1-year trial.

Study Design. A randomized, open, long-term, repeated-dose comparison of an anti-inflammatory drug and two opioid regimens in 36 patients with back pain. Objectives. To examine the long-term safety and efficacy of chronic opioid therapy in a randomized trial of patients with back pain. Methods. All participants underwent a 4-week washout period of no opioid medication before being randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens for 16 weeks: 1) naproxen only, 2) set-dose oxycodone, or 3) titrated-dose oxycodone and sustained-release morphine sulfate. All patients then were assigned to a titrated dose of opioids for 16 weeks and then gradually tapered off their medication for 12 weeks. Finallv, all participants were monitored for a 1-month posttreatment washout period. Each patient was called once a week for a report on pain, activity, mood, medication, hours awake, and adverse effects and was monitored carefully for signs of abuse and noncompliance. Results. Weekly reports during the experimental phase showed the titrated-dose group to have less pain (P < 0.001) and less emotional distress (P< 0.001) than the other two groups. Both opioid groups were significantly different from the naproxen-only group. During the titration phase, patients also reported significantly less pain and improved mood. Few differences were found in activity or hours asleep, or between average pretreatment and posttreatment phone-interview and questionnaire variables. No adverse events occurred, and only one participant showed signs of abuse behavior. Conclusions. The results suggest that opioid therapy has a positive effect on pain and mood but little effect on activity and sleep, Opioid therapy for chronic back pain was used without significant risk of abuse. However, tapered-off opioid treatment is palliative and without long-term benefit.

SEPTIC coronary embolism is a rare complication of endocarditis. Aortic valve (AV) vegetations have been described as a source of coronary embolism resulting in myocardial infarction. 1 The use of diagnostic coronary angiography to localize the obstruction is often considered contraindicated, since the intervention might promote further embolic events. 2 Alternatively, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can be used to assess proximal coronary blood flow, 3,4 however its utility in the management of a patient with suspected septic coronary embolism has not been described previously. We report a case of AV endocarditis following epidural steroid injection for treatment of lower back pain. The patient developed cardiogenic shock with electrocardiography and echocardiography indicating acute ischemia. Despite a suspected coronary embolism, angiography was not performed. The patient was taken to the operating room for emergency AV replacement (AVR) and possible coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, CABG was abandoned, since precardiopulmonary-bypass TEE demonstrated laminar blood flow in the left sided coronary arteries and a resolution of regional wall motion abnormality after the AVR.

IMPLICATIONS We describe a patient with acute mental status changes, which resolved on removal of medication from the reservoir of a Synchromed intrathecal pump. This report highlights the potential adverse mental affects of chronic spinal infusions for pain therapy and discusses pitfalls in toxicology analysis using immunoassay.