Brigitte George1, Christian Minello2, Gilles Allano3, Caroline Maindet4, Alexis Burnod5, Antoine Lemaire6. 1. Pain Management Unit, Hospital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. 2. Anaesthesia-Intensive Care Department, Cancer Centre Georges François Leclerc, Dijon, France. 3. Pain Management Unit, Mutualist Clinic of la Porte-de-Lorient, Lorient, France. 4. Pain Management Centre, Grenoble-Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France. 5. Department of Supportive Care, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, Paris, France. 6. Oncology and Medical Specialties Department, Valenciennes General Hospital, Valenciennes, France. lemaire-a@ch-valenciennes.fr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Despite progress in treatments, cancer pain remains underestimated, poorly assessed and under-treated. Prescribing strong opioids, because of their specificities, requires precision in management considering their pharmacology but also a clear understanding of recommendations. Some clinicians highlight the risk of addiction, excessive sedation and respiratory depression and their need for information. Our objective in this review is to suggest some clinical guidance for the positioning and daily use of opioids within cancer pain management. METHODS: Critical reflection based on literature analysis and clinical practice. RESULTS: Strong opioids may be initiated as soon as pain diagnosis is defined. Factors to consider are pain aetiology, opioid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, genetic polymorphism, physiology (age, gender, weight and pregnancy), comorbidities (especially renal, hepatic, cardiovascular diseases), chronobiology, environmental factors, medication interference and treatment adherence. Achieving the best-balanced opioid treatment for background pain is complex, mainly due to the variable benefit/risk ratio between individuals and the experience of breakthrough cancer pain. Opioid initiation alongside a dynamic reassessment of pain should be fully integrated into the patient's management to optimise analgesia. The efficacy and safety of a strong opioid treatment need to be re-evaluated and adapted to individuals constantly as it varies over time. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer pain is multimorphic and permanently changing due to disease evolution, curative treatments and disruptive events (concomitant treatments, pain from associated disease, comorbidities and complications, modifications of the environment). Well-managed opioids are the cornerstone of a complex environment requiring multidisciplinary dynamic assessments integrated into the patient's care pathway.
PURPOSE: Despite progress in treatments, cancer pain remains underestimated, poorly assessed and under-treated. Prescribing strong opioids, because of their specificities, requires precision in management considering their pharmacology but also a clear understanding of recommendations. Some clinicians highlight the risk of addiction, excessive sedation and respiratory depression and their need for information. Our objective in this review is to suggest some clinical guidance for the positioning and daily use of opioids within cancer pain management. METHODS: Critical reflection based on literature analysis and clinical practice. RESULTS: Strong opioids may be initiated as soon as pain diagnosis is defined. Factors to consider are pain aetiology, opioid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, genetic polymorphism, physiology (age, gender, weight and pregnancy), comorbidities (especially renal, hepatic, cardiovascular diseases), chronobiology, environmental factors, medication interference and treatment adherence. Achieving the best-balanced opioid treatment for background pain is complex, mainly due to the variable benefit/risk ratio between individuals and the experience of breakthrough cancer pain. Opioid initiation alongside a dynamic reassessment of pain should be fully integrated into the patient's management to optimise analgesia. The efficacy and safety of a strong opioid treatment need to be re-evaluated and adapted to individuals constantly as it varies over time. CONCLUSIONS:Cancer pain is multimorphic and permanently changing due to disease evolution, curative treatments and disruptive events (concomitant treatments, pain from associated disease, comorbidities and complications, modifications of the environment). Well-managed opioids are the cornerstone of a complex environment requiring multidisciplinary dynamic assessments integrated into the patient's care pathway.
Authors: Alecsandra Gorzo; Andrei Havași; Ștefan Spînu; Adela Oprea; Claudia Burz; Daniel Sur Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-08-27 Impact factor: 4.964