Dear Friends, For the first time in more than a decade, an American Society of Anesthesiologists taskforce has updated its chronic pain guidelines.The new recommendations are designed to help clinicians who treat pain. The objectives are to optimize pain control, enhance physical and psychological well-being, and minimize adverse outcomes.Richard Rosenquist, MD, from the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, led the 12-member taskforce of anesthesiologists in both private and academic practice from various parts of the United States. The group also worked with members of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. The new guidelines appear in the April issue of Anesthesiology.The recommendations apply to patients with chronic noncancer, neuropathic, somatic, or visceral pain. The taskforce focused on interventional diagnostic procedures including diagnostic joint block, nerve block, and neuraxial opioid trials. Kind regards,
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