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1. PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF
ACUTE PAIN
1.1 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY OF PAIN
1.1.1 Defnition of acute pain
Pain is defned by the Internatonal Associaton for the Study of Pain (IASP) as an unpleasant
sensory and emotonal experience associated with actual or potental tssue damage, or
described in terms of such damage (Merskey & Bogduk, 1994). However, the inability to
communicate verbally does not negate the possibility that an individual is experiencing pain
and is in need of suitable pain-relieving treatment. This emphasises the need for appropriate
assessment and management of pain when caring for unconscious patents, preverbal or
developmentally delayed children, and individuals with impaired communicaton skills due
to disease or language barriers, as well as those who do not possess a command of the
caregivers language (Craig, 2006). Even individuals with natve command of language and
cultural skills can face difculty in communicatng the complexites of the pain experience
(Craig, 2009).
Acute pain is defned as pain of recent onset and probable limited duraton. It usually has an
identfable temporal and causal relatonship to injury or disease. Chronic pain commonly
persists beyond the tme of healing of an injury and frequently there may not be any clearly
identfable cause (Ready & Edwards, 1992).
It is increasingly recognised that acute and chronic pain may represent a contnuum rather
than distnct enttes. Increased understanding of the mechanisms of acute pain has led to
improvements in clinical management and in the future it may be possible to more directly
target the pathophysiological processes associated with specifc pain syndromes.
Secton 1.1 focuses on the physiology and pathophysiology of the transmission and modulaton
of painful stmuli (ie nocicepton). Psychological factors that impact on the experience of
pain are outlined in Secton 1.2. However, in individual patents, biological, psychological and
environmental or social factors will all interact. An integrated biopsychosocial approach to
management that also considers patent preferences and prior experiences is encouraged.
1.1.2 Pain perception and nociceptive pathways
The ability of the somatosensory system to detect noxious and potentally tssue-damaging
stmuli is an important protectve mechanism that involves multple interactng peripheral and
central mechanisms. The neural processes underlying the encoding and processing of noxious
stmuli are defned as nocicepton (Loeser & Treede, 2008). In additon to these sensory efects,
the percepton and subjectve experience of pain is multfactorial and will be infuenced by
psychological and environmental factors in every individual.
Peripheral nociceptors
The detecton of noxious stmuli requires actvaton of peripheral sensory organs (nociceptors)
and transducton into acton potentals for conducton to the central nervous system.
Nociceptve aferents are widely distributed throughout the body (skin, muscle, joints, viscera,
meninges) and comprise both medium-diameter lightly myelinated A-delta fbres and small-
diameter, slow-conductng unmyelinated C-fbres. The most numerous subclass of nociceptor
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is the C-fbre polymodal nociceptor, which responds to a broad range of physical (heat, cold,
pressure) and chemical stmuli. Thermal sensaton is detected by a range of transient receptor
potental (TRP) channels (Patapoutan et al, 2009). A number of receptors have been postulated
to signal noxious mechanical stmuli, including acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), TRPs and
potassium channels (Woolf & Ma, 2007).
Tissue damage, such as that associated with infecton, infammaton or ischaemia, produces
disrupton of cells, degranulaton of mast cells, secreton by infammatory cells, and inducton
of enzymes such as cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2). Ranges of chemical mediators act either
directly via ligand-gated ion channels or via metabotropic receptors to actvate and/or sensitse
nociceptors (see Table 1.1). Endogenous modulators of nocicepton, including proteinases
(Russell & McDougall, 2009), pro-infammatory cytokines (eg TNF, IL-1, IL-6) (Schafers & Sorkin,
2008), ant-infammatory cytokines (eg IL-10) (Sloane et al, 2009) and chemokines (eg CCL3,
CCL2, CX3CL1) (Woolf & Ma, 2007; White & Wilson, 2008), can also act as signalling molecules in
pain pathways. Following actvaton, intracellular kinase cascades result in phosphorylaton of
channels (such as voltage-gated sodium and TRP channels), alteratons in channel kinetcs and
threshold, and sensitsaton of the nociceptor. Neuropeptdes (substance P and calcitonin gene-
related peptde) released from the peripheral terminals also contribute to the recruitment of
serum factors and infammatory cells at the site of injury (neurogenic oedema). This increase
in sensitvity within the area of injury due to peripheral mechanisms is termed peripheral
sensitsaton, and is manifest as primary hyperalgesia (Woolf & Ma, 2007). Non-steroidal ant-
infammatory drugs (NSAIDs) modulate peripheral pain by reducing prostaglandin E2 (PGE
2
)
synthesis by locally induced COX-2. Infammaton also induces changes in protein synthesis
in the cell body in the dorsal root ganglion and alters the expression and transport of ion
channels and receptors, such as TRPV
1
and opioid receptors respectvely, to the periphery
(Woolf & Ma, 2007). The later underlies the peripheral acton of opioid agonists in infamed
tssue (Stein et al, 2009).
Table 1.1 Examples of primary aferent and dorsal horn receptors and ligands
Ionotropic receptor Subtype/subunits Ligand
TRP TRPV
1
heat (>42C), capsaicin, H
+
TRPV
2
heat (>53C)
TRPV
3
, TRPV
4
warm (>32C)
TRPM
8
cool
TRPA
1
noxious cold (<17C)
acid sensing DRASIC, ASIC H
+
purine P
2
X
3
ATP
serotonin 5HT
3
5HT
NMDA NR1, NR2A-D, NR3 glutamate
AMPA
iGluR1/iGluR2 and iGluR3/
iGluR4
glutamate
kainate iGluR5 glutamate
Metabotropic receptor Subtype Ligand
metabotropic glutamate mGluR
1,2/3,5
glutamate
prostanoids
EP1-4
IP
PGE
2
PGI
2
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Metabotropic receptor Subtype Ligand
histamine H
1
HA
serotonin 5HT
1A
, 5HT
4
, 5HT
2A
5HT
bradykinin B
I
, B
2
BK
cannabinoid CB
1
, CB
2
anandamide
tachykinin neurokinin-1 (NK
1
) substance P, neurokinin A
proteinase PAR
1-4
protease
opioid mu, delta, kappa
enkephalin, dynorphin, beta-
endorphin
Notes: 5HT: serotonin; ASIC: acid sensing ion channel; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; BK: bradykinin; DRASIC:
subtype of acid sensing ion channel; iGluR: ionotropic glutamate receptor; mGluP: metabotropic glutamate
receptor; NK1: neurokinin-1; P2X3: purinergic receptor subtype; PAR: proteinase-actvated receptor; PGE
2
:
prostaglandin E2; PGI
2
: prostacyclin; TRP: transient receptor potental. Others (eg H1, EP1-4, TRPV
2
) are
designated subtypes of receptors rather than abbreviatons.
Sodium channels are important modulators of neuronal excitability, signalling and
conducton of neuronal acton potentals to the central nervous system (CNS) (Cummins et
al, 2007; Momin & Wood, 2008; Dib-Hajj et al, 2009). A rapidly inactvatng fast sodium current
that is blocked by tetrodotoxin is present in all sensory neurons. This is the principal site of
acton for local anaesthetcs, but as the channel is present in all nerve fbres, conducton
in sympathetc and motor neurons may also be blocked. Subtypes of slowly actvatng and
inactvatng tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents are selectvely present on nociceptve
fbres. Following injury, changes in sodium channel kinetcs contribute to hyperexcitability, and
specifc alteratons in the expression of sodium channels (upregulaton or downregulaton)
occur in diferent pain states. The importance of sodium channels in pain sensitvity is refected
by the impact of mutatons in the SCN9A gene encoding the Na(v)1.7 channel: loss-of-functon
results in insensitvity to pain whereas gain-of-functon mutatons produce erythromelalgia and
severe pain (Dib-Hajj et al, 2008). However, subtype-selectve drugs are not yet available (Momin
& Wood, 2008).
The cell bodies of nociceptve aferents that innervate the trunk, limbs and viscera are found
in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), while those innervatng the head, oral cavity and neck are in
the trigeminal ganglia and project to the brainstem trigeminal nucleus. The central terminals
of C and A-delta fbres convey informaton to nociceptve-specifc neurons within laminae I
and II of the superfcial dorsal horn and also to wide dynamic range neurons in lamina V, which
encode both innocuous and noxious informaton. By contrast, large myelinated A-beta fbres
transmit light touch or innocuous mechanical stmuli to deep laminae III and IV.
Pain transmission in the spinal cord
Primary aferent terminals contain excitatory amino acids (eg glutamate, aspartate), peptdes
(eg substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptde [CGRP]) and neurotrophic factors (eg brain-
derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]), which act as neurotransmiters and are released by
diferent intensity stmuli (Sandkuhler, 2009). Depolarisaton of the primary aferent terminal
results in glutamate release, which actvates postsynaptc ionotropic alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-
5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) receptors and rapidly signals informaton relatng to
the locaton and intensity of noxious stmuli. In this normal mode a high intensity stmulus
elicits brief localised pain, and the stmulus-response relatonship between aferent input and
dorsal horn neuron output is predictable and reproducible (Woolf & Salter, 2000).
Summaton of repeated C-fbre inputs results in a progressively more depolarised postsynaptc
membrane and removal of the magnesium block from the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)
receptor. This is mediated by glutamate actng on ionotropic NMDA receptors and
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metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR), and by substance P actng on neurokinin-1 (NK
1
)
receptors. A progressive increase in acton potental output from the dorsal horn cell is seen
with each stmulus, and this rapid increase in responsiveness during the course of a train of
inputs has been termed wind-up. Long-term potentaton (LTP) is induced by higher frequency
stmuli, but the enhanced response outlasts the conditoning stmulus, and this mechanism
has been implicated in learning and memory in the hippocampus and pain sensitsaton in the
spinal cord (Sandkuhler, 2009). Behavioural correlates of these electrophysiological phenomena
have been seen in human volunteers, as repeated stmuli elicit progressive increases in
reported pain (Hansen et al, 2007).
Intense and ongoing stmuli further increase the excitability of dorsal horn neurons.
Electrophysiological studies have identfed two paterns of increased postsynaptc response:
windup is evoked by low frequency C-fbre (but not A-beta fbre) stmuli and is manifest
as an enhanced postsynaptc response during a train of stmuli; and LPT is generated by
higher frequency stmuli and outlasts the conditoning stmulus. Increases in intracellular
calcium due to infux through the NMDA receptor and release from intracellular stores
actvate a number of intracellular kinase cascades. Subsequent alteratons in ion channel
and/or receptor actvity and trafcking of additonal receptors to the membrane increase the
efcacy of synaptc transmission. Centrally mediated changes in dorsal horn sensitvity and/or
functonal connectvity of A-beta mechanosensitve fbres and increased descending facilitaton
contribute to secondary hyperalgesia (ie sensitvity is increased beyond the area of tssue
injury). Windup, LTP and secondary hyperalgesia may share some of the same intracellular
mechanisms but are independent phenomena. All may contribute to central sensitsaton,
which encompasses the increased sensitvity to both C and A-beta fbre inputs resultng in
hyperalgesia (increased response following noxious inputs) and allodynia (pain in response to
low intensity previously non-painful stmuli) (Sandkuhler, 2009).
The intracellular changes associated with sensitsaton may also actvate a number of
transcripton factors both in DRG and dorsal horn neurons, with resultant changes in gene and
protein expression (Ji et al, 2009). Unique paterns of either upregulaton or downregulaton
of neuropeptdes, G-protein coupled receptors, growth factors and their receptors, and many
other messenger molecules occur in the spinal cord and DRG in infammatory, neuropathic and
cancer pain. Further elucidaton of changes specifc to diferent pain states may allow more
accurate targetng of therapy in the future.
In additon to the excitatory processes outlined above, inhibitory modulaton also occurs
within the dorsal horn and can be mediated by non-nociceptve peripheral inputs, local
inhibitory GABAergic and glycinergic interneurons, descending bulbospinal projectons, and
higher order brain functon (eg distracton, cognitve input). These inhibitory mechanisms
are actvated endogenously to reduce the excitatory responses to persistent C-fbre actvity
through neurotransmiters such as endorphins, enkephalins, noradrenaline (norepinephrine)
and serotonin, and are also targets for many exogenous analgesic agents.
Thus, analgesia may be achieved by either enhancing inhibiton (eg opioids, clonidine,
antdepressants) or by reducing excitatory transmission (eg local anaesthetcs, ketamine).
Central projections of pain pathways
Diferent qualites of the overall pain experience are subserved by projectons of multple
parallel ascending pathways from the spinal cord to the midbrain, forebrain and cortex.
The spinothalamic pathway ascends from primary aferent terminals in laminae I and II, via
connectons in lamina V of the dorsal horn, to the thalamus and then to the somatosensory
cortex. This pathway provides informaton on the sensory-discriminatve aspects of pain
(ie the site and type of painful stmulus). The spinoretcular (spinoparabrachial) and
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spinomesencephalic tracts project to the medulla and brainstem and are important for
integratng nociceptve informaton with arousal, homeostatc and autonomic responses as
well as projectng to central areas mediatng the emotonal or afectve component of pain.
The spinoparabrachial pathway originates from superfcial dorsal horn lamina I neurons that
express the NK
1
receptor and projects to the ventromedial hypothalamus and central nucleus
of the amygdala. Multple further connectons include those with cortcal areas involved in
the afectve and motvatonal components of pain (eg anterior cingulate cortex, insular and
prefrontal cortex), projectons back to the periaqueductal grey (PAG) region of the midbrain
and rostroventromedial medulla (RVM), which are crucial for fght or fight responses and
stress-induced analgesia, and projectons to the retcular formaton, which are important for
the regulaton of descending pathways to the spinal cord (see Figure 1.1) (Hunt & Mantyh, 2001;
Tracey & Mantyh, 2007; Tracey, 2008).
Figure 1.1 The main ascending and descending spinal pain pathways
Notes: (a) There are 2 primary ascending nociceptve pathways. The spinoparabrachial pathway (red) originates
from the superfcial dorsal horn and feeds areas of the brain concerned with afect. The spinothalamic
pathway (blue) originates from deeper in the dorsal horn (lamina V) afer receiving input from the
superfcial dorsal horn and predominantly distributes nociceptve informaton to areas of the cortex
concerned with discriminaton.
(b) The descending pathway highlighted originates from the amygdala and hypothalamus and terminates
in the PAG. Neurons project from here to the lower brainstem and control many of the antnociceptve
and autonomic responses that follow noxious stmulaton.
Other less prominent pathways are not illustrated.
The site of acton of some commonly utlised analgesics are included.
Legend A: adrenergic nucleus; bc: brachium conjunctvum; cc: corpus collosum; Ce: central nucleus of the
amygdala; DRG: dorsal root ganglion; Hip: hippocampus; ic: internal capsule; LC: locus coeruleus; PAG:
periaqueductal grey; PB: parabrachial area; Po: posterior group of thalamic nuclei; Py: pyramidal tract;
RVM: rostroventrmedial medulla; V: ventricle; VMH: ventral medial nucleus of the hypothalamus; VPL:
ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus; VPM: ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus
Source: Modifed from Hunt (Hunt & Mantyh, 2001).
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Descending modulatory pain pathways
Descending pathways contribute to the modulaton of pain transmission in the spinal cord via
presynaptc actons on primary aferent fbres, postsynaptc actons on projecton neurons, or
via efects on intrinsic interneurons within the dorsal horn. Sources include direct cortcofugal
and indirect (via modulatory structures such as the PAG) pathways from the cortex, and the
hypothalamus, which is important for coordinatng autonomic and sensory informaton. The
RVM receives aferent input from brainstem regions (PAG, parabrachial nucleus and nucleus
tractus solitarius) as well as direct ascending aferent input from the superfcial dorsal horn,
and is an important site for integraton of descending input to the spinal cord (Millan, 2002).
The relatve balance between descending inhibiton and facilitaton varies with the type and
intensity of the stmulus and also with tme following injury (Vanegas & Schaible, 2004; Heinricher
et al, 2009; Tracey & Mantyh, 2007). Serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways in the dorsolateral
funiculus (DLF) contribute to descending inhibitory efects (Millan, 2002) and serotonergic
pathways have been implicated in facilitatory efects (Suzuki et al, 2004).
1.1.3 Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain has been defned as pain initated or caused by a primary lesion or
dysfuncton in the nervous system (Merskey & Bogduk, 1994; Loeser & Treede, 2008). Although
commonly a cause of chronic symptoms, neuropathic pain can also present acutely following
trauma and surgery. The incidence has been conservatvely estmated as 3% of acute pain
service patents and ofen it produces persistent symptoms (Hayes et al, 2002). Similarly, acute
medical conditons may present with neuropathic pain (Gray, 2008) as discussed further in
Secton 9.
Nerve injury and associated alteratons in aferent input can induce structural and functonal
changes at multple points in nociceptve pathways. Damage to peripheral axons results in loss
of target-derived growth factors and marked transcriptonal changes in DRG of injured neurons
(including downregulaton of TRP and sodium channels) and a difering patern in non-injured
neighbouring neurons that contributes to spontaneous pain (Woolf & Ma, 2007). In the spinal
cord, actvaton of the same signal transducton pathways as seen following infammaton
can result in central sensitsaton, with additonal efects due to loss of inhibiton (Sandkuhler,
2009). Central neurons in the RVM were sensitsed afer peripheral nerve injury (Carlson et al,
2007) and structural reorganisaton in the cortex afer spinal cord injury (Wrigley et al, 2009), and
changes in cerebral actvaton have been noted in imaging studies of patents with neuropathic
pain (Tracey & Mantyh, 2007).
1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ACUTE PAIN
Pain is an individual, multfactorial experience infuenced, among other things, by culture,
previous pain experience, belief, mood and ability to cope. Pain may be an indicator of tssue
damage but may also be experienced in the absence of an identfable cause. The degree of
disability experienced in relaton to the experience of pain varies; similarly there is individual
variaton in response to methods to alleviate pain (Eccleston, 2001).
The IASPs defniton of pain (Merskey & Bogduk, 1994) emphasises that pain is not a directly
observable or measurable phenomenon, but rather a subjectve experience that bears a
variable relatonship with tssue damage. The task of researchers and clinicians is to identfy
any factors that might contribute to the individuals pain experience. These could include
somatc (physical) and psychological factors, as well as contextual factors, such as situatonal
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and cultural consideratons. Pain expression, which may include facial expressions, body
posture, language, vocalizatons, and avoidance behaviour, partally represents the complexity
of the psychological experience, but is not equivalent to it (Crombez & Eccleston, 2002; Kunz et al,
2004; Vervoot et al, 2009). Engels enunciaton (Engel, 1977) of a biopsychosocial model of illness
has provided a framework for considering pain phenomena. A dynamic engagement between
the clinician and the patent was recommended in order to explore possible relevant biological,
psychological, and socio-cultural contributons to the clinical problem at hand.
The biopsychosocial model of pain (Turk & Monarch, 1995) proposed that biological factors can
infuence physiological changes and that psychological factors are refected in the appraisal
and percepton of internal physiological phenomena. These appraisals and behavioural
responses are, in turn, infuenced by social or environmental factors, such as reinforcement
contngencies (eg Flor et al, 2002). At the same tme, the model also proposes that psychological
and social factors can infuence biological factors, such as hormone producton, actvity in
the autonomic nervous system and physical deconditoning. Experimental evidence supports
these propositons (Flor & Hermann, 2004). Other concepts and models of pain which challenge
traditonal reductonist, mind-body or biomedical paradigms have also been promulgated
(Quintner et al, 2008).
1.2.1 Psychological factors
Psychological factors that infuence the experience of pain include the processes of atenton,
other cognitve processes (eg memory/learning, thought processing, beliefs, mood),
behavioural responses, and interactons with the persons environment.
Attention
In relaton to pain, atenton is viewed as an actve process and the primary mechanism by
which nocicepton accesses awareness and disrupts current actvity (Eccleston & Crombez, 1999).
The degree to which pain may interrupt atenton depends on factors such as intensity, novelty,
unpredictability, degree of awareness of bodily informaton, threat value of pain, catastrophic
thinking, presence of emotonal arousal, environmental demands (such as task difculty), and
emotonal signifcance. Evidence from experimental studies has demonstrated that anxiety
sensitvity (Keogh & Cochrane, 2002 Level III-2) and pain catastrophising (Vancleef & Peters, 2006
Level III-2) may also infuence the interruptve qualites of pain on atenton.
Learning and memory
The role of learning or memory has primarily been studied in laboratory setngs with
experimentally induced pain. A number of studies using healthy subjects have demonstrated
that reports of pain (eg pain severity ratngs) can be operantly conditoned by their
consequences and this efect can be refected in measures of associated skin conductance
responses, facial actvity and cortcal responses (Flor et al, 2002; Jollife & Nicholas, 2004). Taken
together, these studies provide support for the thesis that the experience of pain is not solely
due to noxious input, but that environmental contngencies can also contribute.
Learning processes may also be involved in the development and maintenance of chronic pain
(Birbaumer et al, 1995). Evidence of both classical and instrumental (operant) learning responses
were refected in stereotypy, or repettve movements, of certain muscle groups to personally
relevant stressful situatons, as well as conditoning of muscle and pain responses to previously
neutral tones and images.
Beliefs, thought processes
Empirical evidence supports a role for fear of pain contributng to the development of
avoidance responses following pain and injury, which ultmately lead to disability in many
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people with persistng pain (Leeuw et al, 2007). Negatve appraisals of internal and external
stmuli (eg catastrophising), negatve afectvity and anxiety sensitvity could contribute to the
development of pain-related fear and, in turn, lead to escape and avoidance behaviours, as
well as hypervigilance to internal and external illness informaton, muscular reactvity, and
physical disuse and behavioural changes.
1.2.2 Acute pain settings
The contributon of psychosocial factors to the pain experience is important in acute and
chronic pain setngs as well as in the transiton from acute to chronic pain (Linton, 2000 Level IV;
Pincus et al, 2002 Level IV).
Preoperatve anxiety has been shown to be associated with higher pain intensites in the frst
hour afer a variety of diferent operatons (Kalkman et al, 2003 Level IV), including abdominal
(Caumo et al, 2002 Level IV; Granot & Ferber, 2005 Level IV), coronary artery bypass (Nelson et al,
1998 Level IV), gynaecological (Hsu et al, 2005 Level IV; Carr et al, 2006 Level IV) and varicose vein
(Terry et al, 2007 Level IV) surgery, and afer laparoscopic tubal ligaton (Rudin et al, 2008 Level IV).
Preoperatve anxiety was also associated with increased pain and reduced functon 1 year afer
total knee replacement (Brander et al, 2003 Level IV), but not 5 years afer the surgery (Brander
et al, 2007 Level IV). Similarly, preoperatve psychological distress was shown to predict pain
up to 2 years afer knee arthroplasty (Lingard & Riddle, 2007 Level IV). Pain from 2 to 30 days
afer breast surgery was also predicted by preoperatve anxiety (Katz et al, 2005 Level IV).
Afer electve Caesarean secton, preoperatve anxiety did not predict analgesic use, but was
negatvely associated with maternal satsfacton and speed of recovery (Hobson et al, 2006
Level IV).
In patents who underwent repair of their anterior cruciate ligament, those with high Pain
Catastrophising Scale (PCS) scores, assessed prior to surgery, reported more pain immediately
afer surgery and when walking at 24 hours compared with those with low scores, but there
was no diference in analgesic consumpton (Pavlin et al, 2005 Level IV). Afer breast surgery,
catastrophising was associated with increased pain intensity and analgesic use (Jacobsen &
Butler, 1996 Level IV) and with higher pain scores afer abdominal surgery (Granot & Ferber,
2005 Level IV) and Caesarean secton (Strulov et al, 2007 Level IV). Preoperatve PCS scores also
predicted pain afer knee arthroplasty on the second postoperatve day (Roth et al, 2007 Level IV)
and at 6 weeks (Sullivan et al, 2009 Level IV) and 2 years afer surgery (Forsythe et al, 2008 Level IV).
Preoperatve depression (Caumo et al, 2002 Level IV; Kudoh et al, 2002 Level III-2; Katz et al, 2005
Level IV; Rudin et al, 2008 Level IV) and neurotcism (Bisgaard et al, 2001 Level IV) were predictors
of postoperatve pain early afer surgery; preoperatve depression was also associated with
pain 1 year afer total knee replacement (Brander et al, 2003 Level IV) and reduced functon at
both 1 year (Brander et al, 2003 Level IV) and 5 years later (Brander et al, 2007 Level IV). Strong
informaton-seeking behaviour was associated with a reducton in the incidence of severe pain
(Kalkman et al, 2003 Level IV).
Preoperatve anxiety and moderate to severe postoperatve pain are, in turn, predictors of
postoperatve anxiety (Caumo et al, 2001 Level IV; Carr et al, 2006 Level IV).
In opioid-tolerant patents, the anxiety and autonomic arousal associated with withdrawal
(Tetrault & OConnor, 2008) may also impact on acute pain experience and report (see Secton
11.7 for further details). Behavioural problems were more common in methadone-maintained
patents who required inpatent acute pain management (Hines et al, 2008 Level III-2).
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Patient-controlled analgesia
A number of studies have looked specifcally at the relatonship between pain relief and
psychological factors in patents using patent-controlled analgesia (PCA) in the postoperatve
period.
In general, anxiety seems to be the most important psychological variable that afects PCA use.
Preoperatve anxiety correlated with increased postoperatve pain intensity, the number of PCA
demands made by the patent (ofen unsuccessful, that is, during the lockout interval), degree
of dissatsfacton with PCA and lower self-reports of quality of analgesia (Jamison et al, 1993
Level IV; Perry et al, 1994 Level IV; Thomas et al, 1995 Level III-1; Brandner et al, 2002 Level IV; Ozalp
et al, 2003 Level IV; Hsu et al, 2005 Level IV; De Cosmo et al, 2008 Level IV). Another study designed
to look at predictors of PCA demands made during the lockout interval also found that anxiety
and negatve afect positvely predicted PCA lockout interval demands and postoperatve pain,
as did preoperatve intrusive thoughts and avoidant behaviours about the impending surgery
(Katz et al, 2008 Level IV).
Evidence regarding PCA opioid consumpton is contradictory; both no change (Gil et al, 1990
Level IV; Gil et al, 1992 Level IV; Jamison et al, 1993 Level IV) and an increase (Ozalp et al, 2003
Level IV; De Cosmo et al, 2008 Level IV; Katz et al, 2008 Level IV) have been reported.
In a study looking at the efect of a number of psychological factors on both pain and PCA
morphine use in the immediate postoperatve period and on pain 4 weeks afer surgery,
preoperatve self-distracton coping positvely predicted postoperatve pain levels and
morphine consumpton; emotonal support and religious-based coping positvely predicted
PCA morphine consumpton; and preoperatve distress, behavioural disengagement, emotonal
support, and religious-based coping also positvely predicted pain levels 4 weeks afer surgery
(Cohen et al, 2005 Level IV).
There was no relatonship between locus of control and postoperatve pain intensity,
satsfacton with PCA or PCA dose-demand rato (Brandner et al, 2002 Level IV). However,
preoperatve depression was associated with increased pain intensity, opioid requirements,
PCA demands and degree of dissatsfacton (Ozalp et al, 2003 Level IV; De Cosmo et al, 2008
Level IV).
Key messages
1. Preoperatve anxiety, catastrophising, neurotcism and depression are associated with
higher postoperatve pain intensity (U) (Level IV).
2. Preoperatve anxiety and depression are associated with an increased number of PCA
demands and dissatsfacton with PCA (U) (Level IV).
The following tck box represents conclusions based on clinical experience and expert
opinion.
Pain is an individual, multfactorial experience infuenced by culture, previous pain events,
beliefs, mood and ability to cope (U).
1.3 PROGRESSION OF ACUTE TO CHRONIC PAIN
The importance of addressing the link between acute and chronic pain has been emphasised
by recent studies. To highlight this link, chronic pain is increasingly referred to as persistent
pain. A survey of the incidence of chronic pain-related disability in the community concluded
10 Acute Pain Management: Scientfc Evidence
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that patents ofen relate the onset of their pain to an acute injury, drawing atenton to the
need to prevent the progression from acute to chronic pain (Blyth et al, 2003 Level IV).
The associaton between acute and chronic pain is well-defned, but few randomised
controlled studies have addressed the aetology, tme course, preventon or therapy of the
transiton between the two pain states. Acute pain states that may progress to chronic pain
include postoperatve and post-traumatc pain (see below and Secton 9.1), acute back pain
(see Secton 9.4) and herpes zoster (see Secton 9.6.2).
Chronic pain is common afer surgery (see Table 1.2) (Kehlet et al, 2006; Macrae, 2008) and
represents a signifcant source of ongoing disability, ofen with considerable economic
consequences. Such pain frequently has a neuropathic element. For example, all patents with
chronic postherniorrhaphy pain had features of neuropathic pain (Aasvang et al, 2008 Level IV).
Neuropathic pain may be seen early in the postoperatve period (see Secton 9.1.1).
There is some evidence that specifc early analgesic interventons may reduce the incidence
of chronic pain afer surgery. Epidural analgesia initated prior to thoracotomy and contnued
into the postoperatve period resulted in signifcantly fewer patents reportng pain 6 months
later compared with patents who had received intravenous (IV) PCA opioids for postoperatve
analgesia (45% vs 78% respectvely) (Senturk et al, 2002 Level II). There was no statstcally
signifcant diference in the incidence of chronic pain between patents given pre-emptve
epidural analgesia (initated prior to surgery) and patents in whom epidural analgesia was
commenced afer surgery 39.6% vs 48.6% (Bong et al, 2005 Level I). In patents undergoing
colonic resecton, contnuous perioperatve epidural analgesia led to a lower risk of developing
persistent pain up to 1 year afer surgery compared with IV analgesia (Lavandhomme et al,
2005 Level II).
Spinal anaesthesia in comparison to general anaesthesia reduced the risk of chronic
postsurgical pain afer Caesarean secton (Nikolajsen et al, 2004 Level IV) and hysterectomy (OR:
0.42; CI 0.21 to 0.85) (Brandsborg et al, 2007 Level IV). The later study found no diference in risk
between abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy.
An infusion of ropivacaine into the site of iliac crest bone graf harvest resulted in signifcantly
less pain in the iliac crest during movement at 3 months (Blumenthal et al, 2005 Level II).
Local anaesthetc wound infltraton reduced the proporton of patents with persistent pain
and neuropathic pain 2 months following intracranial tumour resecton (Batoz et al, 2009
Level II).
Preincisional paravertebral block reduced prevalence and intensity of pain 12 months afer
breast surgery (Kairaluoma et al, 2006 Level II). Perioperatve use of gabapentn or mexiletne
afer mastectomy reduced the incidence of neuropathic pain at 6 months postoperatvely,
from 25% in the placebo to 5% in both treatment groups (Fassoulaki et al, 2002 Level II). Similar
protectve results were achieved by the same group by the use of a eutectc mixture of local
anaesthetcs alone (Fassoulaki et al, 2000 Level II) or in combinaton with gabapentn (Fassoulaki et
al, 2005 Level II).
Deliberate neurectomy (of the ilioinguinal nerve) for inguinal hernia repair reduced the
incidence of chronic postsurgical pain (from 21% to 6%) (Malekpour et al, 2008 Level II), although
this was not seen in an earlier study (Picchio et al, 2004 Level II).
See Secton 1.5 below for more examples of the use of pre-emptve and preventve analgesic
interventons in atempts to reduce the risk of persistent pain afer surgery, and Sectons 9.1.2
to 9.1.3 for more details on preventon of phantom pain afer limb amputaton and other
postoperatve pain syndromes.
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Table 1.2 Incidence of chronic pain afer surgery
Type of operaton Incidence of chronic pain (%)
Estmated incidence of chronic severe
pain [>5 out of 10/10] (%)
Amputaton 3085 510
Thoracotomy 565 10
Mastectomy 1157 510
Inguinal hernia 563 24
Coronary bypass 3050 510
Caesarean secton 655 4
Cholecystectomy 350 Not estmated
Vasectomy 037 Not estmated
Dental surgery 513 Not estmated
Sources: Adapted from Kehlet et al (Kehlet et al, 2006) and Macrae (Macrae, 2008)
1.3.1 Predictive factors for chronic postsurgical pain
A number of risk factors for the development of chronic postsurgical pain have been identfed
(Kehlet et al, 2006; Macrae, 2008). A systematc review of psychosocial factors identfed
depression, psychological vulnerability, stress and late return to work as having a correlaton
to chronic postsurgical pain (Hinrichs-Rocker et al, 2009 Level III-3). Very young age may be a
protectve factor as hernia repair in children under 3 months age did not lead to chronic pain in
adulthood (Aasvang & Kehlet, 2007 Level IV).
Table 1.3 Risk factors for chronic postsurgical pain
Preoperatve factors Pain, moderate to severe, lastng more than 1 month
Repeat surgery
Psychologic vulnerability (eg catastrophising)
Preoperatve anxiety
Female gender
Younger age (adults)
Workers compensaton
Genetc predispositon
Inefcient difuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC)
Intraoperatve factors Surgical approach with risk of nerve damage
Postoperatve factors Pain (acute, moderate to severe)
Radiaton therapy to area
Neurotoxic chemotherapy
Depression
Psychological vulnerability
Neurotcism
Anxiety
Sources: Adapted from Kehlet et al (Kehlet et al, 2006) and Macrae (Macrae, 2008)
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1.3.2 Mechanisms for the progression from acute to chronic pain
The pathophysiological processes that occur afer tssue or nerve injury mean that acute pain
may become persistent (Cousins et al, 2000). Such processes include infammaton at the site
of tssue damage with a barrage of aferent nociceptor actvity that produces changes in the
peripheral nerves, spinal cord, higher central pain pathways and the sympathetc nervous
system (see Secton 1.1).
Afer limb amputaton, reorganisaton or remapping of the somatosensory cortex and other
cortcal structures may be a contributory mechanism in the development of phantom limb
pain (Flor et al, 1995; Grusser et al, 2004). There is preclinical and clinical evidence of a genetc
predispositon for chronic pain (Mogil, 1999), although one study found that an inherited
component did not feature in the development of phantom pain in members of the same
family who all had a limb amputaton (Schot, 1986).
Descending pathways of pain control may be another relevant factor as patents with efcient
difuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC) had a reduced risk of developing chronic postsurgical
pain (Yarnitsky et al, 2008 Level III-2).
Key messages
1. Some specifc early anaesthetc and/or analgesic interventons reduce the incidence of
chronic pain afer surgery (S) (Level II).
2. Chronic postsurgical pain is common and may lead to signifcant disability (U) (Level IV).
3. Risk factors that predispose to the development of chronic postsurgical pain include the
severity of pre- and postoperatve pain, intraoperatve nerve injury and psychosocial
factors (U) (Level IV).
4. All patents with chronic postherniorrhaphy pain had features of neuropathic pain (N)
(Level IV).
5 Spinal anaesthesia in comparison to general anaesthesia reduces the risk of chronic
postsurgical pain afer hysterectomy and Caesarean secton (N) (Level IV).
1.4 PRE-EMPTIVE AND PREVENTIVE ANALGESIA
In laboratory studies, administraton of an analgesic prior to an acute pain stmulus more
efectvely minimises dorsal horn changes associated with central sensitsaton than the same
analgesic given afer the pain state is established (see Secton 1.1) (Woolf, 1983). This led to the
hypothesis that pain relief prior to surgery may enhance postoperatve pain management
that is, pre-emptve preoperatve analgesia (Wall, 1988). However, individual clinical studies
have reported confictng outcomes when comparing preincisional with postncisional
interventons. In part this relates to variability in defnitons, defciencies in clinical trial design
and diferences in the outcomes available to laboratory and clinical investgators (Kissin, 1994;
Katz & McCartney, 2002).
As the process of central sensitsaton relates not only to skin incision but also to the extent
of intraoperatve tssue injury and postoperatve infammaton, the focus has shifed from
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the tming of a single interventon to the concept of protectve and therefore preventve
analgesia (Kissin, 1994) (see Table 1.4). The diferences in these terms relates to the outcomes
being described, because all rely on minimising sensitsaton. Pre-emptve analgesia has been
described above and is measured in terms of pain intensity or related outcomes. Protectve
analgesia describes a technique that reduces measures of sensitsaton such as hyperalgesia.
Preventve analgesia is the persistence of analgesic treatment efcacy beyond its expected
duraton. In clinical practce, preventve analgesia appears to be the most relevant and
holds the most hope for minimising chronic pain afer surgery or trauma, possibly because
it decreases central sensitsaton and windup. An important consideraton to maximise the
beneft of any preventve strategy is that the actve interventon should be contnued for as
long as the sensitsing stmulus persists, that is well into the postoperatve period (Dahl &
Moiniche, 2004; Pogatzki-Zahn & Zahn, 2006).
Table 1.4 Defnitons of pre-emptve and preventve analgesia
Pre-emptve
analgesia
Preoperatve treatment is more efectve than the identcal treatment administered afer
incision or surgery. The only diference is the tming of administraton.
Preventve
analgesia
Postoperatve pain and/or analgesic consumpton is reduced relatve to another treatment,
a placebo treatment, or no treatment as long as the efect is observed at a point in tme that
exceeds the expected duraton of acton of the interventon. The interventon may or may not
be initated before surgery.
Sources: Moiniche et al (Moiniche et al, 2002) and Katz & McCartney (Katz & McCartney, 2002).
The benefts of pre-emptve analgesia have been questoned by two systematc reviews
(Dahl & Moiniche, 2004; Moiniche et al, 2002). However a more recent meta-analysis provided
support for pre-emptve epidural analgesia (Ong et al, 2005 Level I
1
). The efcacy of diferent
pre-emptve analgesic interventons (epidural analgesia, local anaesthetc wound infltraton,
systemic NMDA antagonists, systemic opioids, and systemic NSAIDs) was analysed in relaton
to diferent analgesic outcomes (pain intensity scores, supplemental analgesic consumpton,
tme to frst analgesic). The efect size was most marked for epidural analgesia (0.38; CI 0.28
to 0.47) and improvements were found in all outcomes. Pre-emptve efects of local
anaesthetc wound infltraton and NSAID administraton were also found, but results were
equivocal for systemic NMDA antagonists and there was no clear evidence for a pre-emptve
efect of opioids.
Note: reversal of conclusions
This reverses the Level 1 conclusion in the previous editon of this
document as pre-emptve efects have been shown with epidural
analgesia; earlier meta-analyses using more simple outcomes had
reported no pre-emptve efects.
Pre-emptve thoracic epidural analgesia (local anaesthetc +/ opioid) reduced the severity of
acute pain only on coughing following thoracotomy. There was a marginal efect on pain at
rest and, although acute pain was a predictor of chronic pain at 6 months in two studies, there
was no statstcally signifcant diference in the incidence of chronic pain in the pre-emptve
1 This meta-analysis includes studies that have since been withdrawn from publicaton. Please refer to the
Introducton at the beginning of this document for comments regarding the management of retracted artcles.
Afer excluding results obtained from the retracted publicatons, Marret et al (Marret et al, Anesthesiology
2009; 111:127989) reanalysed the data relatng to possible pre-emptve efects of local anaesthetc wound
infltraton and NSAID administraton. They concluded that removal of this informaton did not signifcantly alter
the results of the meta-analysis.
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(epidural analgesia initated prior to surgery) versus control (epidural analgesia initated afer
surgery) 39.6% vs 48.6% (Bong et al, 2005 Level I).
A systematc review (Katz & Clarke, 2008 Level I
2
) reported preventve efects following the
use of a number of diferent drugs, but equivocal or no beneft from pre-emptve treatment
(Table 1.5). The methodology was unable to identfy specifc therapeutc techniques that may
be of beneft.
Table 1.5 Summary of studies according to target agent administered
Pre-emptve efects Preventve efects
Agent(s)
No. of
studies
Positve Negatve Positve Negatve
Opposite
efects
Total no.
efects
Gabapentn 6 0 (0) 1 (16.7) 4 (66.6) 1 (16.7) 0 (0) 6 (100)
Local
anaesthetcs
13 3 (20) 3 (20) 6 (40) 1 (6.7) 2 (13.3) 15 (100)
Opioids 5
[-1]
3 (60)
[-1]
1 (20) 0 (0) 1 (20) 0 (0) 5 (100)
[-1]
NSAIDs 14
[-2]
7 (43.8)
[-1]
3 (18.8) 4 (25)
[-1]
2 (12.4) 0 (0) 16 (100)
[-2]
NMDA
antagonists
14 2 (11.8) 1 (5.9) 9 (53) 4 (23.4) 1 (5.9) 17 (100)
Multmodal 5 1 (16.7) 1 (16.7) 2 (33.3) 2 (33.3) 0 (0) 6 (100)
Other 4
[-1]
1 (25) 0 (0) 3 (75)
[-1]
0 (0) 0 (0) 4 (100)
[-1]
Total
a
61 17
b
(24.6)
10
(14.5)
28
c
(40.6)
11
(15.9)
3
(4.4)
69
(100)
Notes: Table shows the total number of studies and number (%) with positve and negatve pre-emptve and
preventve efects. Also shown is the number (%) of studies reportng efects opposite to those predicted
and the total number of efects (positve, negatve and opposite). The total number of efects exceeds
the number of studies because some studies were designed to evaluate both pre-emptve and preventve
efects. See text for defniton of pre-emptve and preventve efects.
a p = 0.02 for z-test comparison of proporton of total positve pre-emptve plus preventve efects
(0.64) versus proporton of total negatve pre-emptve plus preventve efects (0.31).
b p = 0. 36 for z-test comparison of proporton of total positve pre-emptve efects (17/27 = 0.63)
versus proporton of total negatve pre-emptve efects (10/27 = 0.37)
c p = 0.03 for z-test comparison of proporton of total positve preventve efects (28/39 = 0.72) versus
proporton of total negatve preventve efects (11/39 = 0.28)
Legend: NSAIDs: non-steroidal ant-infammatory drugs; NMDA: N-methyl-D-aspartate
Source: Reproduced with kind permission from Katz and Clark, Preventve analgesia and beyond: current status,
evidence, and future directons, Table 9.4 p 165 Clinical Pain Management: Acute Pain 2e, Hodder Arnold.
2 This meta-analysis includes studies that have since been withdrawn from publicaton and which are shown as
subtractons in Table 1.5. These were four positve reports: pre-emptve efects of opioids, pre-emptve efects
of venlafaxine (listed under Other), and both pre-emptve and preventve efects of NSAIDs. Reanalysis of the
data would be required to determine the overall strength of the evidence. Please refer to the Introducton at the
beginning of this document for comments regarding the management of retracted artcles.
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As actvaton of the NMDA receptor plays an important role in central sensitsaton, many
studies have focussed on the ability of NMDA receptor antagonists to produce pre-emptve
or preventve analgesic efects. A qualitatve systematc review of NMDA receptor antagonists
showed that ketamine and dextromethorphan produced a signifcant preventve analgesic
beneft; in all positve preventve studies, a direct analgesic beneft of the drug also occurred
in the early postoperatve period; no positve efect was seen in four studies using magnesium
(McCartney et al, 2004 Level I). The additon of low-dose IV ketamine to thoracic epidural
analgesia reduced the severity and need for treatment of post-thoracotomy pain at 1 and
3 months postoperatvely (Suzuki et al, 2006 Level II). However, in a later study of thoracic
surgery patents, when single dose intrapleural ropivacaine and intravenous analgesia was
combined with either perioperatve ketamine or saline, no diference in chronic pain up to
4 months was noted (Duale et al, 2009 Level II).
In a study of multmodal analgesia (local anaesthetc, opioid, ketamine and clonidine) in four
groups of patents having colonic resecton, a clear preventve efect on the development
of residual pain up to 1 year afer surgery was demonstrated with contnuous perioperatve
epidural analgesia; residual pain at 1 year was lowest in patents who received intraoperatve
versus postoperatve epidural analgesia (Lavandhomme et al, 2005 Level II).
Key messages
1. The tming of a single analgesic interventon (preincisional rather than postncisional),
defned as pre-emptve analgesia, has a signifcant efect on postoperatve pain relief with
epidural analgesia (R) (Level I).
2. There is evidence that some analgesic interventons have an efect on postoperatve pain
and/or analgesic consumpton that exceeds the expected duraton of acton of the drug,
defned as preventve analgesia (U) (Level I).
3. NMDA receptor antagonist drugs in partcular show preventve analgesic efects (U)
(Level I).
4. Perioperatve epidural analgesia combined with ketamine intravenously decreases
hyperalgesia and long-term pain up to 1 year afer colonic surgery compared with
intravenous analgesia alone (N) (Level II).
1.5 ADVERSE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
OF ACUTE PAIN
1.5.1 Acute pain and the injury response
Acute pain is one of the actvators of the complex neurohumoral and immune response to
injury (Figure 1.2), and both peripheral and central injury responses have a major infuence on
acute pain mechanisms. Thus acute pain and injury of various types are inevitably interrelated
and if severe and prolonged, the injury response becomes counterproductve and can have
adverse efects on outcome (Kehlet & Dahl, 2003; Chapman et al, 2008).
Although published data relate to the combinaton of surgery or trauma and the associated
acute pain, some data have been obtained with experimental pain in the absence of injury.
Electrical stmulaton of the abdominal wall results in a painful experience (visual analogue
scale [VAS] 8/10) and an associated hormonal/metabolic response, which includes increased
cortsol, catecholamines and glucagon, and a decrease in insulin sensitvity (Greisen et al, 2001).
Although acute pain is only one of the important triggers of the injury response (Figure 1.2),
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as the magnitude and duraton of the response is related to the magnitude and duraton of the
stmulus, efectve pain relief can have a signifcant impact on the injury response (Liu & Wu,
2008; Carli & Schricker, 2009).
Release of proinfammatory cytokines may contribute to postoperatve ileus, but the impact of
modulatng this response on overall patent outcome requires further evaluaton. Intravenous
lignocaine infusion atenuated postoperatve increases in pro-infammatory cytokines, such
as IL-6 (interleukin-6), IL-8 and IL-1RA (a compettve inhibitor of IL-1) and was associated
with more rapid return of bowel functon following abdominal surgery (Kuo et al, 2006 Level II;
Herroeder et al, 2007 Level II). Reductons in pain scores and opioid consumpton were found
in only one study (Kuo et al, 2006 Level II). Benefts of lignocaine were more marked when
administered via the thoracic epidural route than by intravenous infusion (Kuo et al, 2006
Level II).
Figure 1.2 The injury response
Injury response
Postoperatve pain Acute phase cytokines
(eg Interleukins 1,6)
Infammaton
Surgical trauma Neural Hyperalgesia
Psychological, environmental
and social factors
Humoral Catabolism
Other factors (eg drugs) Metabolic Other systemic adaptatons
Immune Physical, mental
deactvaton
Note: Pain is only one of the factors, including psychological and environmental factors, that trigger complex
intermediates (neural, humoral etc) leading to the injury response. Thus acute pain and the injury
response are inevitably inter-related. The end result is physical and mental deactvaton.
Source: Acute Pain Management: the Scientfc Evidence (NHMRC 1999); Commonwealth of Australia,
reproduced with permission.
1.5.2 Adverse physiological effects
Clinically signifcant injury responses can be broadly classifed as infammaton, hyperalgesia,
hyperglycaemia, protein catabolism, increased free faty acid levels (lipolysis) and changes in
water and electrolyte fux (Liu & Wu, 2008; Carli & Schricker, 2009) (Figure 1.3). In additon, there
are cardiovascular efects of increased sympathetc actvity and diverse efects on respiraton,
coagulaton and immune functon (Liu & Wu, 2008).
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Table 1.6 Metabolic and endocrine responses to injury
Endocrine Catabolic hormones ACTH, cortsol, ADH, growth hormone,
catecholamines, angiotensin II, aldosterone,
glucagons, IL-1, TNF, IL-6
Anabolic hormones Insulin, testosterone
Metabolic
carbohydrate Hyperglycaemia, glucose
intolerance, insulin resistance
Glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis (cortsol,
glucagon, growth hormone, adrenaline, free
faty acids)
Insulin secreton/actvaton
protein Muscle protein catabolism,
synthesis of acute phase proteins
Cortsol, adrenaline, glucagons, IL-1,
IL-6, TNF
lipid Lipolysis and oxidaton Catecholamines, cortsol, glucagon, growth
hormone
Water and
electrolyte
fux
Retenton of water and sodium,
excreton of potassium and
functonal ECF with shifs to ICF
Catecholamine, aldosterone, ADH, cortsol,
angiotensin II, prostaglandins and other
factors
Note: ACTH: adrenocortcotrophic hormone; ADH: antdiuretc hormone; ECF: extracellular fuid;
ICF: intracellular fuid; IL: interleukin; TNF: tumour necrosis factor.
Source: Acute Pain Management: the Scientfc Evidence (NHMRC 1999); copyright Commonwealth of Australia,
reproduced with permission.
Hyperglycaemia
Hyperglycaemia is broadly proportonal to the extent of the injury response. Injury response
mediators stmulate insulin-independent membrane glucose transporters glut-1, 2 and
3, which are located diversely in brain, vascular endothelium, liver and some blood cells.
Circulatng glucose enters cells that do not require insulin for uptake, resultng in cellular
glucose overload and diverse toxic efects. Excess intracellular glucose non-enzymatcally
glycosylates proteins such as immunoglobulins, rendering them dysfunctonal. Alternatvely,
excess glucose enters glycolysis and oxidatve phosphorylaton pathways, leading to excess
superoxide molecules that bind to nitric oxide (NO), with formaton of peroxynitrate, ultmately
resultng in mitochondrial dysfuncton and death of cells served by glut-1, 2 and 3. Myocardium
and skeletal muscle are protected from this toxicity because these two tssues are served by
glut-4, the expression of which is inhibited by injury response mediators (Figure 1.3) (Carli &
Schricker, 2009).
Even modest increases in blood glucose can be associated with poor outcome partcularly in
metabolically challenged patents such as people with diabetes (Lugli et al, 2008 Level II). Fastng
glucose levels over 7 mmol/L or random levels of greater than 11.1 mmol/L were associated
with increased inhospital mortality, a longer length of stay and higher risk of infecton in
intensive care patents (Van den Berghe, 2004). Tight glycaemic control has been associated with
improved outcomes following coronary artery bypass graf (CABG) in patents with diabetes
(Lazar et al, 2004 Level II), but the risks and benefts of tght glycaemic control in intensive care
patents (Wiener et al, 2008 Level I) contnues to be debated (Fahy et al, 2009 Level IV).
18 Acute Pain Management: Scientfc Evidence
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Figure 1.3 Proposed pathways of glucose-induced cellular toxicity
IS GLUCOSE TOXIC?
Insulin independent
Insulin dependent
STRESS
cytokines
hypoxia
endothelin-1
VEGF
angiotensin II
GLUT 1-2-3
neurons
endothelial cells
hepatocyes
blood cells
GLUT 4
skeletal muscle
myocardium
+