Principles & Practice of Pain Medicine > Part V. Pain Syndromes > C. Pain in the Terminally Ill > Chapter 46. Anesthetic Interventions in Cancer Pain Stuart W. Hough, Leonidas C. Goudas, and Daniel B. Carr

Overview

"In this chapter we present a broad overview of a variety of approaches including, but not limited to, anesthetic interventions. A roster of excellent clinicians and researchers discuss in prior chapters, in great detail a variety of approaches used in the management of pain in general. These prior approaches are used for the management of pain directly attributable to cancer as well as pain resulting from cancer treatment. We feel that it would be useful to the reader of this textbook — at the expense of some overlap with other chapters — to present a broad overview and synthesis of these approaches with emphasis on the unique attributes of cancer patients. Patients with cancer comprise a traditionally undertreated group. Even when the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for cancer pain treatment are followed (See Chapter 45, Medical Management of Cancer Pain), up to 30% of patients report inadequate analgesia.^1,2 In addition, some patients with adequate analgesia may experience intolerable side effects from opioids and other pharmacologic treatments. This chapter first addresses the role of psychological and physical approaches to cancer pain management. Then, a variety of palliative procedures, including anesthetic, radiologic, and neurosurgical interventions, are presented...."