AB205. SOH22ABS234. Patient positions and ultrasound guided chronic pain interventions

Background: Image guidance is commonly used in chronic pain intervention procedures. Guidance modalities include fluoroscopy, CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. Ultrasound guidance is growing in popularity due to absence of radiation, absence of dye injections, decreased cost and spectrum of utility. Another potential benefit is more comfortable patient positioning, reduction in stress for patients regarding positioning and intervention and reduced procedure time. This benefit of ultrasound-guided injections for single and multi-source have not been studied. The aim of this study was to examine these potential benefits of ultrasound guided chronic pain relief procedures.

Methods: Over the course of six weeks 101 adult patients who presented for therapeutic injections for chronic pain management were included. The patient position, patient pain source, the intervention performed, patient and staff impression regarding comfort and ease of positioning were recorded.

Results: A total of 101 adult patients received a therapeutic intervention under ultrasound guidance. Patient stress levels in relation to positioning were found to be low, patients self-reported ease of positioning due to wider position choice, staff found patient positioning easier and the intervention time was reduced in comparison to if fluoroscopy was required.

Conclusions: Ultrasound guided chronic pain relief procedures in Ireland is under-utilised. Patient comfort during positioning is a significant advantage compared to other image guided modalities. Reduced procedure time is noted and it is more cost effective. Ultrasound is a tool and is thus skill dependant.

Keywords: Chronic; pain management; positions; ultrasound; therapeutic intervention