Glutamate and GABA Receptors
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Glutamate and GABA receptors are amino acid neurotransmitters present in the central nervous system. They are involved with nociception at…
Serotonergic Receptors
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Serotonin is a transmitter found in the central nervous system. It is involved with nociception at the peripheral and spinal…
Potassium and Calcium Channels
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK K channels are present in all the cells and maintain resting membrane potentials. Closing of K channel leads to depolarisation….
Sodium Channels
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Action potential is initiated by voltage-gated sodium channels. Alterations in channel properties can contribute to inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Voltage-gated…
Assessment of Pain in Elderly
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Life expectancy is increasing and people are living longer. At the same time, the incidence of persistent pain is increasing….
Pain Assessment in Paediatrics
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Pain assessment in children is difficult. Pain is a subjective experience, and children may not be able to provide adequate…
Pain Pathway
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK The pathway can be divided into peripheral and central. Peripheral pathways are the first point of contact for the painful…
Neuropathic Pain
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK IASP defines neuropathic pain as “pain caused by lesion or disease of the somatosensory system”. Neuropathic pain comprises pain, paraesthesia…
Assessment of Neuropathic Pain
(1) Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Neuropathic pain is the pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system (IASP definition). The challenge…
