Tramadol, a centrally acting analgesic, consists of two enantiomers, both of which contribute to analgesic activity via different mechanisms. (+) Tramadol and the metabolite (+) -O- desmethyl-tramadol (M1) are agonists of the mu opioid receptor. (+) Tramadol also stimulates presinaptic release of serotonin and inhibits serotonin reuptake weheres (-) tramadol inhibits norepinephrine reuptake. Thus tramadol enhances inhibitory effects on pain transmission both by opioid and monoaminergic mechanisms. The complementary and synergistic actions of the two enantiomers improve the analgesic efficacy and tolerability profile of the racemate. Following oral administration the bioavailability of tramadol is high and with new slow release preparations twice daily administration enables effective pain control. The recommended maximum daily dose of tramadol is 400 mg/day. Tramadol is characterised by low plasma protein binding and quite extensive tissue distribution. Elimination is primarily by the hepatic route (metabolism by CYP2D6) and partly by the renal route. It is effective in different types of moderate-to-severe acute and chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, low back pain, osteoarthritis pain and breakthrough pain. It also causes fewer opioid-type adverse effects, e.g. nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, dry mouth and constipation. Although trials in literature demonstrate immune-stimulating effects of tramadol, there are also trials suggesting immune-supressive effects that are lesser than morphine. Owing to its pharmacological properties, tramadol is more appropriate than NSAIDs for patients suffering from gastrointestinal and renal problems. Besides its proven clinical efficacy tramadol is a safe drug as respiratory depression, cardiovascular side effects, drug abuse and dependence are of minor clinical relevance, unlike some other opioids.

Though pain is a warning friend, it also is a life disturbing and hurting symptom. We need to consider psychological aspects of pain together with the physiological aspects, in order to be able to understand, to differentiate the etiology and to treat completely. In this review, we will discuss psychological aspects of pain patients, psychiatric patients who apply to pain clinics with pain symptoms, primarily psychological and psychiatric treatments of chronic pain patients.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has grown in popularity both among the general population and among the cancer patients. Cancer patients often use CAM, which is a treatment that is not commonly used in the conventional setting. However, the prevalence of CAM use appears to vary substantially, with reported frequency of use of at least one CAM therapy ranging from 20% to 83.3%. Complementary medicine has become an important aspect of palliative cancer care. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopaty, hypnotherapy, massage, reflexology, relaxation techniques, and spiritual healing are frequently used forms of treatment. The purpose of this article is to provide information about some complementary therapies that are commonly used by cancer patients in the palliative care.

The most important complication of lumber disc hernia operations is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS), which goes with fibrotic adhesions at the surgical site. The primary treatment applied to the cases that develop FBSS is the placement of Racz catheter under floroscopy and application of epidural neuroplasty which is a three-day procedure. However, this intervention, from which patients benefit a great deal, has some important complications during and after the application. One of these complications is that some pieces of Racz catheter may be broken out and retain at some levels of epidural space and subcutaneous tissue during placement and removal. General approach is to remove the retaining piece surgically. However, there is a less common view that, instead of removing the retaining piece, the patient should be followed up strictly and regularly in terms of neurologic complications. In our case, we decided to perform epidural neuroplasty to the patient diagnosed as FBSS. However, during the placement of the catheter, it was trapped in the left side of L5-S1 foramen by accident due to dense fibrotic tissues, and the subcutaneus part retained in the epidural space. Monthly follow-ups for 12 month were proposed to the patient, while surgery was not recommended. At the end of this period, no sign of infection was observed and neurologic and radiologic findings of the patient did not worsen. It is also interesting that a remarkable recovery was observed in the patient’s clinical situation

The use of opioids for spinal anesthesia increases the anesthetic quality, reduces side effects and also has advantages for the postoperative analgesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subarachnoid %0.5 hyperbaric bupivacaine (B) alone or combined with 10 or 20 mg fentanyl (F) on the anesthetic properties for cesarean section and newborn. 45 patients were randomized to three groups to receive 1.8 ml anesthetic drug for spinal anesthesia. GI (n=15) received B, GII (n=15) 10 mg F+B, GIII (n=15) 20 mg F+B. The onset of sensory blok at T4 level, maximum anesthetic level and the onset time, the level of the motor block, duration of effective analgesia, use of total i.v. fluids and ephedrine, relaxation at the operative area, side effects, umblical cord blood gases, Apgar and neurological and adaptive capasity scores of the newborn were compared among the groups. We conclude that compared to control group, the addition of fentanyl to hyperbaric bupivacaine leads to a decrease in local anesthetic doses and so to a decrease in the incidence of side effects and postoperative analgesic consumption. 7 mg B+20 mg F seems to be the preferable combination for that reasons.

This definitive study has been performed to assess the approach to pain relief in emergency trauma units. The study population consisted of patients seen at the emergency trauma clinics of three different, state-owned, research hospitals in the city of Istanbul. A total of 375 patients with an age range of 18-65 were included. The data were obtained from an 18 question data sheet. Trauma was caused by a fall in 46.1% of the patients and 66.7% of the cases were out of building. Blunt trauma was the cause in 85.6%, 31.2% had head trauma, 38.1% exteremity injuries. Of the patients enrolled in the study, only 17.1% (64 patients) had recieved analgesics. The most common analgesic medication group used was Nonsteroid Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID). According to these results, 82.9% of patients with pain due to trauma had not recieved analgesics and it can be concluded that pain in trauma patients is undertreated.

In our study we aimed to reduce postoperative morphine consumption, prevent adverse effects of morphine, and improve analgesic quality via adding analgesic doses of ketamine infusion to intravenous morphine-patient controlled analgesia (PCA). After local ethics committee approval, 45 patients scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy were included in the study. In the postoperative period the patients were separated into two groups randomly. After starting morphine-PCA in both groups, one group received ketamine infusion (Group K: n= 22), while the other group received saline infusion (Group S: n= 23) for 24 hours. There was no significant difference between the postoperative systolic and diastolic arterial pressures, heart rate and respiratory rate values. Visual Analogue Scale and Verbal Rating Scale measures was significantly lower in Group K (p<0.01). Total morphine consumption was higher in Group S (p<0.05). Sedation scores were significantly lower in Group K (p<0.05). When adverse effects were evaluated we found that nausea was higher in Group S (p<0.05), while there was no difference in the other side effects (p>0.05). Patient satisfaction was better in the 24th and 48th hours in Group K and was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Our results suggest that ketamine infusion added to opioids for postoperative analgesia, reduces total opioid requirement and prevents side effects.