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Introduction: As low back pain incidence is increasing, noninvasive modalities are gaining attention for their ability to achieve the best possible outcome with the least complications. Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is currently popular for this purpose. This study aims to evaluate the effect of PLDD on disability and pain reduction in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled in this study. Spinal nerve blocks were conducted by laser discectomy single stage injection of a needle into the disc space. The nucleus pulposus of herniated discs were irradiated with laser in order to vaporize a small part of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs and reduce the voluminosity of diseased discs. Patients were treated with 1000 J of 980 nm diode laser with 5 W energy. In order to measure the severity of pain, visual analog scale (VAS) and also ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 12. Results: Thirty patients participated in this trial including 11 men and 19 women with a mean age (SD) of 40.8 (10.8) years. The mean patients VAS score and ODI level before and after discectomy showed statistically significant differences. The mean VAS and ODI scores showed no statistical difference between males and females (P < 0.05) and percutaneous laser discectomy decreased the VAS and ODI at both groups of patients similarly. Conclusion: We found the use of PLDD reduces pain and disability in patients as a noninvasive procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite scientific advances on pain measurement and intervention, pain management for infants has remained a challenge for health teams. This is because infants are not able to talk and defend themselves when they are in pain. Prevention of pain is important, not only because it is an ethical expectation, but also because repeated painful exposures can have harmful consequences. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing neonatal pain management from the perspectives of nurses and physicians in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: A qualitative content analysis study was carried out. The participants were the nurses and physicians working in the NICU of Alavi medical training center in Ardabil, Iran. Twenty-five nurses took part in focus group discussions and five physicians attended private interviews. Four focus group discussions and five interviews were carried out until data saturation was ensured. Data analysis was performed using conventional content analysis. All the participants were provided with information about the purpose and the nature of the study, and provided informed consent. Results: Data analyses indicated two effective themes about barriers of implementation of infant pain management, namely "Individual Factors" and "Organizational Factors". The first theme consisted of the categories "knowledge of the personnel" and "commitment of the personnel". The second theme included three categories namely "pain control policy", "work environment condition" and "management issues". Conclusions: Our findings indicated that lack of educational courses, absence of an infant pain management policy, and management issues were the main obstacles in the way of implementation of infant pain management by nurses and physicians at the NICU. Therefore, strategies are required to reduce or remove these barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the growing knowledge on pain assessment and intervention, neonatal pain remains unrecognized and under-treated. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and practice of the neonatal nurses in pain assessment and management. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 120 neonatal nurses working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and neonatal units in Ardebil, Iran, using the census method. For data collection, Nurses' Perceptions of Neonatal Pain questionnaire developed by Cong was employed, which includes two open ended and 36 Likert scale questions. The collected data were analyzed, using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and qualitative content analysis method. Results: As the results of the study indicated, the nurses had adequate level of knowledge about the neonatal pain. However, less than 50% of them believed receiving suitable training on this issue. The majority of the participants reported that they did not use any pain assessment tools (65%). Less than half of them expressed that the pain assessment tools used in their units were accurate measures (44.2%). Likewise, less than half of the nurses reported that pain was well managed in their institution (28.3%) with evidence-based protocols (34.2%). In addition, more than half of the subjects reported that parents should be involved with the care and comfort of their infants during the painful procedures (71.6%). Conclusion: Nurses' perceptions of well-managed pain had a significant relationship with adequate training, use of appropriate and accurate pain tools, clear and evidence-based protocols, and parent involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravenous laser blood irradiation was first introduced into therapy by the Soviet scientists EN.Meschalkin and VS.Sergiewski in 1981. Originally this method was developed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Improvement of rheologic properties of the blood as well as improvement of microcirculation and reduction of the area of infarction has been proved. Further, reduction of dysrhythmia and sudden cardiac death was achieved. At first, only the Helium-Neon laser (632.8 nm) was used in this therapy. For that, a power of 1-3mW and a period of exposure of 20-60 minutes were applied. The treatments were carried out once or twice a day up to ten appointments in all 1. In the years after, many, and for the most part Russian studies showed that helium-neon laser had various effects on many organs and on the hematologic and immunologic system. The studies were published mainly in Russian which were little known in the West because o f decades of political separation, and were regarded with disapproval. Besides clinical research and application for patients, the cell biological basis was developed by the Estonian cell biologist Tiina Karu at the same time. An abstract is to be found in her work "The Science of Low-Power Laser-Therapy" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, which is prevalent among the public population. Depending on the severity of the patients' pain, different treatments are selected for them. Few studies have addressed, so far, the therapeutic effects of laser in such pains and different results have been published in this regard. The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of low intensity laser therapy (LILT) on these diseases. Methods: Sixty patients are randomly divided into three groups, one received low intensity laser therapy (LILT), the second group the low intensity laser and physical exercises simultaneously and the other the laser placebo and physical exercises simultaneously. Laser therapy was performed for 6 weeks, two sessions per week. Pain and disability were measured and compared, at 0, 6 and 12 weeks after the treatment in the three groups. Results: Patient's disability in groups 1 and 2 at week 6 showed a significant improvement compared to the beginning of the study. (Group I, P=0.02, P=0.012, group II, P=0.031, P=0.042, respectively).The rate of pain and disability at the week 12 improved significantly compared to the week 6 of the study in each group of 1 and 2. (Group I, P=0.002, P=0.02, group II, P=0.043, P=0.02, respectively). In the comparison of the groups at week 12, the values of pain (P=0.02) and disability (P=0.03) had improved in group I (laser therapy accompanied with physical exercise). Conclusion: Our Results revealed that laser therapy accompanied with physical exercise can be the most effective way for improving the chronic back pains including pain relief and reduction of disability in the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the growing trend of laryngeal surgeries and the need to protect the airway during and after surgery, among several therapeutic regimens to induce sedation, two regimens of propofol-fentanyl and propofol-midazolam were compared in microlaryngeal surgeries. Forty ASA I-II class patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgeries and referring routinely for postoperative visits were randomly recruited into two groups. For all the patients, 0.5 mg/Kg of propofol was used as bolus and then, 50 mcg/Kg/min of the drug was infused intravenously. For one group, 0.03 mg/Kg bolus of midazolam and for the other group, 2 mcg/Kg bolus of fentanyl was administered in combination with propofol. Ramsay system was used in order to evaluate the effect of the two drugs in inducing sedation. The need for additional dose, blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood oxygen saturation, and also recovery time and adverse effects such as nausea/vomiting and recalling intra-operative memories, were assessed. The patients in the two groups were not statistically different regarding the number of patients, age, sex, preoperative vital signs, the need for additional doses of propofol, systolic blood pressure and mean systolic blood pressure during laryngoscopy. However, mean systolic blood pressure 1 min after removal of laryngoscope returned faster to the baseline in midazolam group (p < 0.01). Mean heart rate returned sooner to the baseline in fentanyl group following removal of stimulation. Besides, heart rate showed a more reduction following administration of fentanyl (p < 0.02). Mean arterial blood oxygen saturation during laryngoscopy significantly decreased in fentanyl group (p < 0.05) compared to the other group. The time it took to achieve a full consciousness was shorter in midazolam group (p < 0.01). Nausea/vomiting was significantly more prevalent in fentanyl group while the patients in midazolam group apparently experienced more of amnesia, comparatively (p < 0.01). Inducing laryngeal block and local anesthesia using propofol-midazolam regimen is not only associated with a more rapid recovery and less recalling of unpleasant memories, but also better in preventing reduction of arterial oxygen saturation during laryngoscopy compared with propofol-fentanyl regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shoulder pain is a common complication of cerebrovascular accidents. This study was conducted to assess the effects of local injections of bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetate on shoulder joint pain and on restricted range of motion following brain events. Methods: This single-blind clinical trial study included 35 patients with chronic shoulder pain (the controls) and 35 patients with chronic shoulder pain due to brain events (the case group). The study was done at Imam Hossein Hospital & Gandhi Day Clinic during the year 2008-2010. The patients in the two groups received bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetate for subacromial bursa injection and suprascapular nerve block by following the protocol described by Dangoisse et al. The patients were followed up for 12 weeks and they were evaluated for pain and range of motion 1, 6, and 12 weeks after the injections. Results: The mean age of the patients was 60.9±9.07 years. Statistically significant improvements in pain score (P=0.001) and shoulder joint range of motion (P=0.001) were observed in patients with chronic shoulder pain versus patients with brain events 12 weeks after suprascapulare nerve block and subacromial bours injections by bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetate. Conclusion: Suprascapular nerve block and subacromial bursa injections of bupivacaine and triamcinolone acetate is a safe and efficacious treatment for the treatment of chronic shoulder pain and restricted range of motion but it is not efficacious or of significant value for the treatment of shoulder pain in patients with brain events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a variety of painful conditions following injury which appears regionally having a distal predominance of abnormal findings. This study, evaluate the use of phentolamine for sympathetic block and regional anesthesia in treatment of CRPS related pain. In this study, 68 patients with CRPS who were referred to pain clinics of Imam Hossein and Akhtar Hospitals and Gandy Center of Surgery between 2003-2008 were evaluated. Forty three of 87 patients finally undertaken intravenous regional sympatholytic block according to therapeutic protocol. 37 patients (86%) received one block, 2 of them (4.75%) received 2 repetitions of blocks and finally repeated block for three times occurred in 4 patients (9.3%). A week after block pain relief outcomes was recorded as following; excellent in 7 patients (16.3%), good in the 32 patients (74.4%) and moderate in the 4 patients (9.3%). After a month, 8 patients (18.5%) showed excellent relief and it was good and moderate in 32 (78%) and one case (2.4%), respectively. Pain relief after three months was excellent, good and moderate in the 13 patients (31.7%), 25 patients (61%) and 3 patients (7.3%), respectively. In this study level of pain relief was significant in various intervals and it showed significant difference in relief three months after block (P=0.04). CRPS due to SMP(sympathetically maintained pain) is thought to be alleviated by phentolamine. Intravenous phentolamine infusion is potentially a new significant option for the therapy of CRPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared this study to determine the effect of cryoanalgesia on post-thoracotomy pain. In this double-blinded randomized clinical trial, 60 patients who underwent thoracotomy were divided into two groups (control and cryoanalgesia). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-10) was used for the measurement of severity of post-thoracotomy pain. It was classified into three categories: 0-1 (mild), 2-3 (moderate), and 4-10 (severe). Pethidine (0.5-1 mg/kg) was administered in case of need for both groups. Patients were visited at the hospital a week later, and were contacted by phone at the first, second, and third months post-operatively. Intensity of pain in the control group was higher than the cryoanalgesia group in all visits the follow-up period. On the second day, the frequencies of severe pain (4-10) were 33.3% and 0 in the control and cryoanalgesia groups, respectively. The mild pain on the seventh day was 13.3% and 83.3% in the control and cryoanalgesia groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Pethidine consumption was 151.6 ± 27 mg in the control group and 87.5 ±48 mg in the cryoanalgesia group on the first day post-operation (P < 0.001). Cryoanalgesia is a useful technique with not serious side effects in order to alleviate post-thoracotomy pain and reduce the need for opiate consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) uses a light source that generates extremely pure light, of a single wavelength1. The effect is not thermal, but rather related to photochemical reactions in the cells. LLLT was introduced as an alternative non-invasive treatment for OA about 10 years ago, but its effectiveness is still controversial2. A Cochrane review of LLLT in osteoarthritis included five trials, and concluded that despite some positive findings, the meta-analysis lacked data on how LLLT effectiveness was affected by the important factors of wavelength, treatment duration of LLLT, dosage, and site of application over nerves instead of joints1,3,4,5,6,7. A different review2 addresses some of these issues in a wider range of trials, and is broadly positive, if limited by numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the growing trend of laryngeal surgeries and the need to protect the airway during and after surgery, among several therapeutic regimens to induce sedation, two regimens of propofol-fentanyl and propofol-midazolam were compared in microlaryngeal surgeries. Forty ASA I-II class patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgeries and referring routinely for postoperative visits were randomly recruited into two groups. For all the patients, 0.5 mg/Kg of propofol was used as bolus and then, 50 mcg/Kg/min of the drug was infused intravenously. For one group, 0.03 mg/Kg bolus of midazolam and for the other group, 2 mcg/Kg bolus of fentanyl was administered in combination with propofol. Ramsay system was used in order to evaluate the effect of the two drugs in inducing sedation. The need for additional dose, blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood oxygen saturation, and also recovery time and adverse effects such as nausea/vomiting and recalling intra-operative memories, were assessed. The patients in the two groups were not statistically different regarding the number of patients, age, sex, preoperative vital signs, the need for additional doses of propofol, systolic blood pressure and mean systolic blood pressure during laryngoscopy. However, mean systolic blood pressure 1 min after removal of laryngoscope returned faster to the baseline in midazolam group (p < 0.01). Mean heart rate returned sooner to the baseline in fentanyl group following removal of stimulation. Besides, heart rate showed a more reduction following administration of fentanyl (p < 0.02). Mean arterial blood oxygen saturation during laryngoscopy significantly decreased in fentanyl group (p < 0.05) compared to the other group. The time it took to achieve a full consciousness was shorter in midazolam group (p < 0.01). Nausea/vomiting was significantly more prevalent in fentanyl group while the patients in midazolam group apparently experienced more of amnesia, comparatively (p < 0.01). Inducing laryngeal block and local anesthesia using propofol-midazolam regimen is not only associated with a more rapid recovery and less recalling of unpleasant memories, but also better in preventing reduction of arterial oxygen saturation during laryngoscopy compared with propofol-fentanyl regimen.