Society for Pediatric Pain Medicine
Better Care for Children in Pain

The American Medical Association Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force continues to advance evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and physicians to help end the nation’s drug-related overdose and death epidemic. Physicians’ positive actions, however, are limited by an insufficient focus on meaningful policy implementation and enforcement to support affordable, accessible, evidence-based care for patients with a substance use disorder, pain, or access to harm reduction services such as naloxone, syringe services programs and fentanyl test strips.

Report is available here: https://end-overdose-epidemic.org/highlights/ama-reports/2023-report/

A new study in Anesthesiology examines the association between genetic variants and their possible association with postsurgical pain. Provoking study with results that may be a bit surprising.

Read the study here: https://pubs.asahq.org/anesthesiology/article/doi/10.1097/ALN.0000000000004677/139139/Association-of-Genetic-Variants-with-Postsurgical

Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis is a known  consequence of brachial plexus blockade, with pre-existing respiratory disease sometimes being a contraindication to considering such blocks. This meta-analysis assessed the impact of various approaches to brachial plexus blockade with the costoclavicular approach with positive findings that may impact clinical practice. 

Read the study here: https://ekja.org/upload/pdf/kja-22718.pdf

 

 

The Rita Allen Foundation has provided a special award for early-career leaders in basic pain research whose work holds high potential for uncovering new pathways to improve the treatment of chronic pain. The Foundation has awarded annually two grants or more in the amount of $150,000 over three years to early-career investigators pursuing innovative research that focuses on basic science mechanisms of pain. Candidates should be in the early stages of their career with an appointment at the faculty level. More information about applying for this award, offered in partnership with the U.S. Association for the Study of Pain (USASP), including a link to the application portal as well as detailed application guidelines and instructions, can be found on the USASP website: https://www.usasp.org/rita-allen-foundation-award-in-pain. Applications are due December 14, 2023.

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for being part of SPPM, a Society dedicated to “Better Care of Children in Pain.” Your work, engagement and the vital contributions to pediatric pain management have made a difference to children’s lives, but together we can strive to do even more.

On this Giving Tuesday, November 28, 2023, when communities, organizations and individuals are coming together to transform our world through their generosity, we hope you will consider donating to the SPPM Education and Research Fund. We as members of the SPPM community make pain relief a priority. This is and will continue to be a work in progress. As pendulums swing back and forth, we must never lose sight of our goal of excellent pain management, while minimizing or preventing adverse side effects.

No contribution is too small and each contribution is a step towards better pediatric pain relief.

Make a Difference Today. Click HERE to donate.

Best wishes/Happy Holidays/Thank You.

Yuan-Chi Lin, MD, MPH
SPPM President