The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today announced Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) has joined ASA’s Industry Supporter Program, supporting the Society’s more than 59,000 anesthesiologist members to improve patient care for the treatment of acute and neuropathic pain.
Tag: Pain Medicine
Dr. Jan Van Zundert Named the 2024 ASRA Pain Medicine Bonica Award Winner
Dr. Van Zundert will present his lecture, “Less is More”, during the 23rd Annual Pain Medicine Meeting being held November 21-23, 2024, in Las Vegas, NV.
Dr. Mark Bicket Named ASRA Pain Medicine Presidential Scholar
Described as an “internationally recognized academic figure in the field of pain medicine,” Dr. Mark Bicket is a Presidential Scholar Award recipient.
Cannabis use associated with increased risk of surgical complications, according to UTHealth Houston study
People who are regular cannabis users are at an increased risk of experiencing complications before, during, and after surgery, according to a study by researchers with UTHealth Houston published today in JAMA Surgery.
Dual Nerve Block May Provide Superior Pain Control During Breast Cancer Surgery, Reduce Risk of Chronic Pain
Using two targeted injections of local anesthetic medication may provide a comprehensive, effective means of pain control during breast cancer surgery, found a study by researchers at Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
MALS Awareness Day sheds light on underdiagnosed painful GI condition
Most people – including physicians – are unfamiliar with a condition called Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS), which causes debilitating chronic abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. That’s why getting diagnosed with MALS often can be a long and painful road…
After Nationwide Search, Three Sub-Specialty Physicians Join Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
“We selected physicians with years of education, extensive experience and sub-specialty training to expand our services and to strengthen our existing programs,” said Sara Cuccurullo, M.D., chair, vice president and medical director of JFK Johnson. “We wanted physicians not only with the training but also with the passion to work in their specialized fields. These committed doctors made our decisions easy.”
Dr. Jose De Andres to Present the 2022 John J. Bonica Lecture at the 21st Annual Pain Medicine Meeting
ASRA Pain Medicine has selected Jose De Andres, MD, PhD, FIPP, EDRA, EDPM, to receive the 2022 John J. Bonica Award. The honor recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the development, teaching, and practice of pain medicine in the tradition of John J. Bonica, MD, the pioneering anesthesiologist regarded as the founding father of pain relief medicine.
Expert Available: Anesthesiologist and pain specialist says new poll shows people unaware of treatment options for back pain
A surprising new Harris Poll reveals that more than one in four U.S. adults (28%) suffer from chronic low back pain – affecting more people than diabetes and heart disease combined. That’s more than 72.3 million adults, far higher than…
Protocol Based on Questionnaires and a Mental Health Checklist Can Replace In-Person Psychological Assessment Before Neuromodulation Therapies
Researchers at Toronto Western Hospital in Canada have proposed a protocol for patients undergoing neuromodulation implantation that incorporates a short mental health checklist and pre-defined cut-offs on validated questionnaires to assess the need for an in-person assessment by a psychologist.
Steroid Use Significantly Reduces Pain After Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Radiofrequency neurotomy is used to provide long-term relief for chronic neck and lower-back pain. The most common side effect is a sensation of burning, numbness, and shooting in the area where the needles were placed. This study found that steroids significantly reduce this side effect.
Novel Drug Delivery Matrix Significantly Extends Pain Relief After Surgery
A novel drug delivery matrix currently in pre-clinical development may offer a narcotic-free alternative for patients experiencing pain after surgery.
Wrist Innervation Anatomy Provides a Roadmap for Chronic Pain Management
More than 11 million Americans experience chronic wrist pain. Percutaneous denervation, a procedure that interrupts the signal from the nerve to the brain, is emerging as a non-invasive alternative for chronic wrist pain. A recent study explored specific sites in the wrist enable effective use of this technique.
Disparities Exist in Kyphoplasty Treatment for Black and Lower-Income Medicare Recipients
A new study found that kyphoplasty was less likely to be performed in Black patients, as well as in patients with dual Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, who tend to be lower-income older adults.
Dr. Kevin Vorenkamp From Duke University Named 2021 ASRA Presidential Scholar
The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Presidential Scholar Award recognizes outstanding scientific and sustained contributions to regional anesthesia and acute or chronic pain medicine over the preceding 10 years.
Chatbots Delivering Psychotherapy Help Decrease Opioid Use After Surgery
A study showed that patients receiving messages from a chatbot used a third fewer opioids after fracture surgery, and their overall pain level fell, too
More than medicine: pain-relief drug delivers choices for mothers in labour
Choice and control are important factors for ensuring a positive childbirth experience, yet until recently, little was known about the impact of alternative administrations of fentanyl – one of the pain relief drugs used during labour– on both mother and baby.
ASRA Recognizes Eight Trailblazers as Part of the Year of Women in ASRA
Eight trailblazing women in regional anesthesia and pain medicine are being honored for their achievements and contributions to the field as part of the ASRA Trailblazer Awards. Created to acknowledge potential for bias in the past, the program is part of the “Year of Women in ASRA,” so named by ASRA President Dr. Eugene Viscusi. Other components of the campaign include year-round highlights of prominent women in the field on the ASRA website and social media channels, greater recognition of gender disparities at meetings, improved data collection to continue to assess our progress representing the field, and, most importantly, development of an organizational plan to identify and correct disparities across all minority groups.
South Dakotans Deserve a Physician to Administer Anesthesia
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the South Dakota Society of Anesthesiologists (SDSA) strongly oppose SB 50, which will needlessly dismantle the anesthesia care team model in South Dakota by authorizing nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia without physician supervision. Additionally, the bill will authorize nurse anesthetists to prescribe patients potentially dangerous controlled substances, including opioids, and perform intricate pain medicine procedures all with no physician oversight or involvement.
Recognize an overdose, save a life
Every day nearly 200 people die from an overdose of drugs or from alcohol poisoning, with opioids responsible for the majority. Recognizing the signs and knowing how to respond to medical emergencies, including carrying and administering naloxone in cases of opioid overdose, can save lives says the ASA.
Implanted Nerve Stimulation Devices May Need Just 60 Days for Sustained Pain Control
Patients who have chosen to treat chronic pain with implanted peripheral nerve stimulation no longer need to be tethered permanently to the device. According to findings from a study in amputees, placing the device for just 60 days resulted in sustained pain relief and functional improvements.
Giving Ketamine Repeatedly for Migraine and Pain Not Associated with Increased Adverse Events
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Virginia retrospectively analyzed patient records see if side effects increased after repeated infusions. They actually found a couple of benefits.
Accountability Program May Prevent Opioid Overprescribing
Colleagues at the University of California at Irvine have developed an electronic prescription drug accountability program to keep track of prescribing among hospitalists, primary care physicians, and emergency department physicians within an institution.
Best of Meeting Abstract: Neurologic Immune Cell Pathways May Offer New Target for Chronic Pain Control
According to research from investigators at Millennium Pain Center and Lumbrera, LLC, targeting of microglial activation phenotypes, such as the M1 and M2, may help control patients’ chronic pain.
Dr. Mark Lema to Receive Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Mark J. Lema, State University of New York (SUNY) Distinguished Service Professor and Chair of Anesthesiology at SUNY at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been selected to receive ASRA’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Nagy Mekhail Is ASRA’s 2019 John Bonica Lecture Award Winner
Nagy Mekhail, MD, PhD, professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, has been selected to receive the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) 2019 John J. Bonica Award.