Copyright
©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Pharmacological management of neuropathic pain in patients with vestibular schwannomas: Experience of the Atlantic Lateral Skull Base Clinic
Andrea LO Hebb, Atlantic Lateral Skull Base Clinic, Division of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University, QEII Halifax Infirmary Site, Halifax NS B3H 3A7, Canada
Andrea LO Hebb, Capital District Health Authority, QEII Halifax Infirmary Site, 3rd Floor, Division of Neurosurgery, Halifax NS B3H 3A7, Canada
Jana Sawynok, Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
Manohar Bance, David P Morris, Division Otolaryngology, Dalhousie University, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax NS B3H 2Y9, Canada
Simon Walling, Division of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax Infirmary Site, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax NS B3H 3A7, Canada
Ken Chisholm, Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS B3H 2Y9, Canada
Author contributions: All authors had contributed substantially to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; drafted the article or revised it critically for important intellectual content and gave final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Dr. Andrea LO Hebb, MSc, PhD, RN, Capital District Health Authority, QEII Halifax Infirmary Site, 3rd Floor, Division of Neurosurgery, 1796 Summer Street, Halifax NS B3H 3A7, Canada. andrea.hebb@cdha.nshealth.ca
Telephone: +1-902-473-4824 Fax: +1-902-425-4176
Received: April 29, 2014
Revised: May 31, 2014
Accepted: June 5, 2014
Published online: June 9, 2014
Revised: May 31, 2014
Accepted: June 5, 2014
Published online: June 9, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: The complexity of managing trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathic pain conditions among patients with skull base tumors requires a simple albeit comprehensive treatment algorithm that can be employed effectively by general practitioners, surgeons and other primary care prescribers in acute care or ambulatory clinical settings. We describe a simple treatment algorithm formulated on recommended best practice and based on clinical experience. It is intended to guide treatment, facilitate management and evaluation of outcome data (self-reported pain, quality of life measures) to elucidate the use of standardized approaches to pain management in patients with skull base etiology.