Virtual Reality as an Adjunct to Ketamine Infusion Therapy Increases Patient Satisfaction in the Management of Chronic Pain and Depression: A Retrospective Pilot Study

The management of patients with concomitant chronic pain (CP) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) remains challenging for clinicians. Current chronic pharmacologic management is often unsuccessful, or has intolerable side effects to the patients. While not restricted to patients with chronic pain, these patients are often diagnosed with depression, presenting with symptoms such as poor mood, anhedonia, and altered cognitive processes. It is estimated that a substantial proportion of treated patients do not derive a substantive benefit from traditional pharmacological treatments for depression. The present study involved a retrospective review of cases, exploring the patient-reported satisfaction with and tolerability of a novel use of virtual reality (VR), coined KVR, as an adjunct to intravenous ketamine infusion therapies. Specifically, the ketamine-virtual reality protocol was employed as a potential adjunctive intervention for patients suffering from chronic pain and depression. Visual Analog Scores (VAS) associated with pain were significantly lower on the third than on the first assessment day. Montgomery-?sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores improved following infusion and across days (i.e., sessions). Lastly, 2/3 of patients preferred the use of VR with their ketamine infusion. The results are considered in terms of implementing prospective studies to examine whether the combination therapies have a synergistic benefit and the nature and magnitude of clinically meaningful treatment effects, if any.

Quasi-Static, Poiseuille Flow of Analgesics from an Elastomeric Pump: Theoretical Determination of Infusion Times and Toxicity Conditions

Background: Elastomeric pumps (elastic balls into which analgesics or antibiotics can be inserted) push medicines through a catheter to a nerve or blood vessel. Since elastomeric pumps are small and need no power source, they fit easily into a pocket during infusion, allowing patient mobility. Elastomeric pumps are widely used and widely studied experimentally, but they have well-known problems, such as maintaining reliable flow rates and avoiding toxicity or other peak-and-trough effects. Objectives: Our research objective is to develop a realistic theoretical model of an elastomeric pump, analyze its flow rates, determine its toxicity conditions, and otherwise improve its operation. We believe this is the first such theoretical model of an elastomeric pump consisting of an elastic, medicine-filled ball attached to a horizontal catheter. Method: Our method is to model the system as a quasi-Poiseuille flow driven by the pressure drop generated by the elastic sphere. We construct an engineering model of the pressure exerted by an elastic sphere and match it to a solution of the one-dimensional radial Navier-Stokes equation that describes flow through a horizontal, cylindrical tube. Results: Our results are that the model accurately reproduces flow rates obtained in clinical studies. We also discover that the flow rate has an unavoidable maximum, which we call the “toxicity bump”, when the radius of the sphere approaches its terminal, unstretched value—an effect that has been observed experimentally. Conclusions: We conclude that by choosing the properties of an elastomeric pump, the toxicity bump can be restricted to less than 10% of the earlier, relatively constant flow rate. Our model also produces a relation between the length of time that the analgesic fluid infuses and the physical properties of the fluid, of the elastomeric sphere and the tube, and of the blood vessel into which the analgesic infuses. From these, we conclude that elastomeric pumps can be designed, using our simple model, to control infusion times while avoiding toxicity effects.

Application of Patient Simulators Combined with Internet plus Scenario Simulation Teaching Models on Intravenous Infusion Nursing Education in China

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of applying patient simulators combined with Internet Plus scenario simulation teaching models on intravenous (IV) infusion nursing education, and to provide scientific evidence for the implementation of advanced teaching models in future nursing education. Methods: Enrolled 60 nurses who took the IV infusion therapy training program in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 for research. 30 nurses who were trained in traditional teaching models from January to December 2022 were selected as the control group, and 30 nurses who were trained with simulation-based teaching models with methods including simulated patients, internet, online meetings which can be replayed and scenario simulation, etc. from January to December 2023 were selected as the experimental group. Evaluated the learning outcomes based on the Competency Inventory for Nursing Students (CINS), Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI), comprehensive learning ability, scientific research ability, and proficiency in the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of IV infusion therapy. Nursing quality, the incidence of IV infusion therapy complications and nurse satisfaction with different teaching models were also measured. Results: The scientific research ability, PSI scores, CINS scores, and comprehensive learning ability of the experimental group were better than those of the control group (P 0.05), and their assessment results of practical skills, nursing quality of IV infusion therapy during training, and satisfaction with teaching models were all better than those of the control group with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The incidence of IV infusion therapy complications in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group, indicating statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Teaching models based on patient simulators combined with Internet Plus scenario simulation enable nursing students to learn more directly and practice at any time and in any place, and can improve their proficiency in IV infusion theoretical knowledge and skills (e.g. PICC catheterization), core competencies, problem-solving ability, comprehensive learning ability, scientific research ability and the ability to deal with complicated cases. Also, it helps provide high-quality nursing education, improve the nursing quality of IV therapy, reduce the incidence of related complications, and ensure the safety of patients with IV therapy.

Practical application of the neuroregenerative properties of ketamine: real world treatment experience

While controversial, ketamine has emerged as an effective treatment for refractory depression. Serial infusions have been performed 3 times per week, but our practical experience has challenged this precept concerning infusion frequency. Depression is associated with neuron loss, reduced synapse numbers, and dearborization of dendrites. Ketamine appears to potently induce mechanisms which reverse these neurodegenerative processes. Ketamine not only blocks the glutamate receptor, it activates eukaroyotic elongation factor 2（e EF2）. This, in turn, activates brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF） protein synthesis. This is thought to underlie ketamine＇s enduring benefits. In addition, ketamine alters glycogen synthase kinase-3（GSK-3） phosphorylation, probably responsible for its rapid antidepressant effect. Notably, inhibition of the BDNF receptor does not block the immediate benefits of ketamine, but does prevent the enduring effects. Neuro-Luminance Ketamine Infusion Centers have been treating patients with serial ketamine infusions for over three years. Our methods differ from what is often reported, as we perform infusions only once per week and generally do not perform more than five infusions. Data from 100 patients showed that 80% of the patients responded. The baseline Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report（QIDS-SR） score was 17.8 ± 2.8. Responders to ketamine showed a drop in QIDS-SR score of 10.8 ± 3.5, while non-responders showed a 0.8 ± 1.8 change. Moreover, they often had persistent benefits over several months. Recently, it was proposed that psychotomimetic effects are necessary during a ketamine infusion to yield effective antidepressant benefits. Yet, only one patient in our clinic has experienced hallucinations in three years. Nevertheless, 80% of our patients show clinical improvement. Further studies of clinical methods for ketamine infusion therapy are encouraged.

Persistent fibrinogen deficiency after snake bite: A case report

BACKGROUND Venom-induced consumption coagulopathy(VICC)is characterized by coagulation dysfunction accompanied by decreased coagulation factor activity and fibrinogen(FBG)concentrations.We report a patient with VICC caused by snake bite who manifested persistent FBG deficiency without abnormal coagulation factor activity.This information may be helpful in diagnosing and treating VICC.CASE SUMMARY A 49-year-old man who had been bitten by a snake 13 h previously was admitted to the Emergency Department of our hospital with visible swelling of a finger and a bleeding puncture site.The provisional diagnosis was VICC,this being made based on persistent bleeding from the puncture site and subcutaneous hemorrhage.Laboratory evidence of coagulation abnormalities,including fibrinolysis,and findings on thromboelastography confirmed VICC.He had persistent afibrinogenemia requiring intravenous infusions of cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma,together with continuous large doses of human FBG.After this treatment,the patient’s right upper limb swelling improved significantly and his subcutaneous hemorrhage resolved.All of his abnormal laboratory findings returned to normal by day 25.During 6 months’of follow-up,the patient had no further hemorrhagic events.CONCLUSION Hemorrhagic snake venom can result in coagulation dysfunction characterized by persistent FBG deficiency without abnormal coagulation factor activity.