[Emergency management of acute pain in oncology].
Acute pains requiring emergency management in oncology can be considered as physiopathological, somatic or visceral nociceptive pains. They are linked: to the tumour, indicating a modification of the tumoural evolution (necrosis, haemorrhage, fracture, acute obstruction of hollow organs or canals, occlusion, hydronephrosis); to the treatment: (inflammation of mucosal membranes, anusitis, post PL syndromes); and to invasive investigations. They are equally neuropathic, revealing an underlying threatened or confirmed medullary compression, or induced by neurotoxic chemotherapy. They are also analysed according to their mode of apparition: mechanical, arising as acute on chronic pain (the pre-fracture pain of metastases); insufficiency of the duration of therapeutic efficacity; an acute episode of neuropathic pain that is often lancing, unpredictable and inevitable. In all cases, it needs to be quantitatively and qualitatively analysed: evaluation, flavour of the symptoms; in order to choose one or a combination of adapted molecules, true antalgics or co-antalgics, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. To counteract this pain, medications with a short onset of action and a short half-life should be used to avoid side effects. These are administered in an intercurrent manner, initially starting at a low dose, modified daily according to the utilisation of supplementary doses. It is necessary to anticipate pain provoked by physical examinations or nursing care as much in the timing as the pharmacology, in using antalgics and/or anxiolytics with a short duration of action. Acutely emerging pains, whatever be their type, arising in the context of cancer and long-term pain are sensitising elements to all further pains, as they imprint in the memory, and are very negatively conditioned by the anguishing context of the illness.
Centre de traitement de la douleur et de soins palliatifs de l'adulte et de l'enfant, Institut Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif. epilea@igr.fr
Evelyne
E
Pichard
D000208:Acute Disease; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010347:Patient Care Planning
D000700:Analgesics