Chapter 10 - Lewis Flashcards
analgesic ceiling
increasing a dose beyond an upper limit provides no greater analgesia
breakthrough pain
transient, moderate to severe pain that occurs in patients whose pain is otherwise well controlled.
complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
type of neuropathic pain. Typical features include dramatic changes in color and temperature of the skin over the affected limb or body part, accompanied by intense burning pain, skin sensitivity, sweating, and swelling. CRPS I is frequently triggered by tissue injury; CRPS II is associated with diverse sympathetic dysfunction.
equianalgesic dose
refers to a dose of one analgesic that is equivalent in pain-relieving effects compared with another analgesic.
modulation
involves the activation of descending pathways that exert inhibitory or facilitatory effects on the transmission of pain.
neuropathic pain
caused by damage to peripheral nerves or structures in the CNS.
nociception
physiologic process by which information about tissue damage is communicated to the central nervous system. Involves 4 processes: transduction, transmission, perception, and modulation
nociceptive pain
caused by damage to somatic or visceral tissue.
pain
an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.
patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)
special type of IV, also known as demand analgesia. With PCA, a dose of opioid is delivered when the patient decides a dose is needed.
transduction
involves the conversion of a noxious mechanical, chemical, or thermal stimulus into an electrical signal called an action potential.
transmission
process by which pain signals are relayed from the periphery to the spinal cord and then to the brain.
trigger point
a circumscribed hypersensitive area within a tight band of muscle. It’s caused by acute or chronic muscle strain and can often be felt as a tight knot under the skin.
