title: Lidocaine 5% medicated plaster for localized neuropathic pain in thoracic surgical patients.
abstract: Neuropathic pain is a common and distressing symptom in thoracic surgical patients. When it consistently presents with measurable sensory changes in a circumscribed area, neuropathic pain can be diagnosed as localized neuropathic pain (LNP).
  
  
  
  The purpose of this study was to report the efficacy of lidocaine 5% medicated plaster (Lido5%P) in the treatment of LNP in thoracic surgical patients.
  
  
  
  We retrospectively reviewed the records of sixteen cancer and noncancer thoracic patients treated with Lido5%P for LNP. Patients had been assessed before and during treatment with standardized forms and questionnaires for pain intensity, sleep quality, drug dosages and adverse events.
  
  
  
  Treatment with Lido5%P yielded a significant and lasting improvement in pain symptomatology. In oncological patients as an add-on therapy, Lido5%P improved pain intensity and sleep quality, and delayed opioid dose escalation. In non-oncological patients as monotherapy or in association with antineuropathic drugs, Lido5%P attenuated LNP. No local or systemic adverse events were recorded.
  
  
  
  Lido5%P was effective in relieving thoracic LNP, and was well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: a Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, Department of Medicine - DIMED , Padua University , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Ulderico
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Freo
authors.affiliation: a Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, Department of Medicine - DIMED , Padua University , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ori
authors.affiliation: a Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, Department of Medicine - DIMED , Padua University , Padua , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine
keywords: Lidocaine plaster; localized neuropathic pain; lung cancer; video-assisted thoracoscopy