Pain, Procedural

This study examines the relationship between central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms of pain inhibition and the pain relief that occurs following a lumbar medial branch block (MBB).

Transperineal prostate biopsy is a safe and effective method of diagnosing prostate cancer. When performed under local anaesthesia in an outpatient setting, it can cause significant pain, particularly during the periprostatic nerve block - the injection of local anaesthetic around the prostate. Better pain management during this procedure may improve patient comfort and encourage wider use of the transperineal approach. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive, low-cost method of pain relief that works by delivering mild electrical impulses through the skin. A preceding pilot study at our centre (n=84) found that TENS used alongside local anaesthesia was associated with significantly lower pain scores during periprostatic nerve block and biopsy sampling, with no device-related complications. This study aims to confirm these findings in a larger, formally powered, triple-blind, randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active TENS or sham TENS (electrodes applied but no electrical current delivered) in addition to standard local anaesthesia. Neither the participant, the operating urologist, nor the nurse recording pain scores will know which group the participant is in. Pain intensity will be assessed at four stages of the procedure using a 0-10 numeric rating scale. Participants will be followed up at 30 days after the biopsy.

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different procedural sedation and analgesia methods used for adults with painful fractures requiring reduction treatment in the emergency department. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Which sedation and analgesia methods provide the best patient satisfaction and pain relief? * How do different treatment methods affect clinician satisfaction and the occurrence of adverse events? The investigators will compare different types of procedural sedative and analgesic treatments (such as systemic sedation/analgesia and regional techniques like nerve or hematoma blocks) to see which approach offers the best patient satisfaction and most effective pain control. Participants will: Be adult patients with upper or lower extremity fractures or joint dislocations requiring painful reduction procedures. Receive one of the routinely used sedation or analgesia treatments (or no analgesia) during their emergency department care. Report their pain levels and satisfaction before, during, and after treatment. Be monitored for any side effects, complications, or use of antidotes. Data will be collected over a six-month period at Odense University Hospital, Holbæk Hospital, and Zealand University Hospital, Køge, following the STROBE guidelines for observational studies.

Brief Summary: Intramuscular (IM) injection is a widely used method for drug administration, with over 12 billion applications globally each year. Despite its therapeutic advantages, IM injection often causes pain, which can negatively impact patient comfort and lead to injection fear, non-compliance, and avoidance of healthcare services. Effective pain management during IM injection is an ethical and professional responsibility for nurses. This randomized controlled study aims to compare the effectiveness of cold spray and stress ball squeezing methods against standard practice in reducing IM injection-related pain. The study will be conducted in the emergency department of a university hospital in Turkey between March and June 2025, involving 66 patients prescribed IM diclofenac sodium. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: cold spray, stress ball, or control. Pain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) within the first minute after injection.

This trial is a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial of adults and children (ages 7 to less than 70 years). Patients who present to the ED and who undergo minor bedside procedures that require local anesthesia will be divided into two groups: The first group will be treated with 0.7 mg/kg intranasal ketamine as well as standard local anesthesia for the procedure (treatment cohort). The second group will be treated with a volume-based dose of intranasal saline solution as well as standard local anesthesia for the procedure (control cohort). The primary aim is to assess whether patients in the treatment cohort report lower pain scores on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-100) when compared to patients in the control cohort. For adult patients, a secondary aim is to compare agitation between the two cohorts using the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) and, for pediatric patients, a secondary aim is to compare alertness between the two cohorts using the University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS). Results obtained from specific procedures will be analyzed on a spectrum of complexity and general length of recovery time. Scientific achievements may include finding a safe and effective way to reduce pain and discomfort during minor procedures in the Emergency Department. Additionally, it would provide opportunities for more research on sub-dissociative doses of ketamine during minor procedures: a topic in which there is still a gap in the published research

The goal of this experimental study is to understand if endotracheal tube (ETT) suctioning increases pain and causes stress on the body in intubated adult ICU patients. These patients are already on ventilators, which means they need suctioning to keep their airways clear, but this procedure may be uncomfortable and cause stress. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does ETT suctioning raise pain levels as measured by the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)? Does ETT suctioning increase certain chemicals in the blood (hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid) that show stress and lack of oxygen in the body? Researchers will compare patients who have ETT suctioning (intervention group) with those who do not have suctioning during the study period (control group) to see if there are differences in pain and blood markers of stress. Participants will: Have pain measured before and after suctioning using the CPOT. Have blood samples taken from an existing line at three time points: 5 minutes before, 5 minutes after, and 30 minutes after suctioning. Provide demographic information (like age, gender, and diagnosis) from medical records. This research will help improve how pain is managed for ICU patients who cannot speak for themselves, potentially leading to better pain relief methods in the future.

Our study consists of a combination of regional blockade ('local' anesthesia) of the anterior and lateral chest wall in the form of a thin needle prick and the supply of local anesthetic drugs to the area of the relevant chest wall structures to exclude all stimuli, including pain from the operative site. A short-acting analgesic and sedative drug will be administered intravenously throughout the procedure - in a dose that allows the required contact between the patient and the anesthetist. If necessary, the dose of the drug may be increased to maintain pain comfort throughout the procedure. The anesthetic team will be with the patient throughout the procedure to ensure comfort and safety.

This project will be a randomized controlled trial (RCT) measuring pain perception with two different tenaculum placement techniques on the uterine cervix. A tenaculum is an instrument used to hold the cervix (the opening to the uterus or womb) in place. The trial will measure pain perception with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) from 0 to 100 mm for two different tenaculum placement techniques, fast and slow closure on the uterine cervix. The main objective of this study is to determine if there is a difference in pain perception with fast compared to slow tenaculum placement techniques on the uterine cervix. We hypothesize that the slow technique will be perceived as less painful for subjects as measured on a 0 mm to 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Subsidiary objectives include describing overall pain levels during the procedure.