Pain and Neurosciences

The group’s field of research is fundamentally clinical and primarily focused on potential therapies, both pharmacological and interventional, aimed at improving pain management. Recently, there has been an increase in the implantation of neurostimulation systems and intrathecal infusion devices. The group’s efforts are directed toward improving the safety and clinical efficacy of these analgesic therapies. The group also works on the multidimensional nature of pain, exploring how sex and gender, as well as different medical and psychological comorbidities, influence pain perception.

Main lines of research

• Neuromodulation in Catalonia: creation of a database of patients undergoing neurostimulation and intrathecal drug infusion. (Revuelta Rizo, Miren Eli; Genove Cortada, Maria Merce; Ferrandiz Mach, Marta; Diaz Jover, Ruben; Sarmiento Luque, Teresa Eugenia; Muñoz Hernandez, Isabel; Roses Alvarez, Laia).
• Identification of the best patient profile and psychopathological characteristics before the implementation of neuromodulation techniques. (Sarmiento Luque, Teresa Eugenia; Revuelta Rizo, Miren Eli; Ferrandiz Mach, Marta; Genove Cortada, Maria Merce; Diaz Jover, Ruben).
• Effect of pulsed radiofrequency on chronic shoulder pain. (Diaz Jover, Ruben).
• Analgesic effect and side effects of spinal ziconotide in patients with refractory chronic pain. (Ferrandiz Mach, Marta; Genove Cortada, Maria Merce).
• Factors that may influence postoperative pain. (Santeularia Verges, Maria Teresa; Heredia Carques, Cristina; Muñoz Hernandez, Isabel).
• Treatment guidelines for acute in-hospital pain. (Santeularia Verges, Maria Teresa; Ferrándiz Mach, Marta; Heredia Carques, Cristina; Genove Cortada, Maria Merce; Muñoz Hernandez, Isabel).
• Characterization of patient profiles according to gender among patients treated at the pain clinic. (Santeularia Verges, Maria Teresa; Melo Cruz, Martha Cristina; Ferrandiz Mach, Marta).
• Development of a new comorbidity index associated with chronic pain. (Santeularia Verges, Maria Teresa).
• Prevention and treatment of infections in neuromodulation devices. (Díaz Jover, Rubén).
• Quality of care in pain clinics using the ISO 9001:2015 methodology (International Organization for Standardization). Audits are conducted annually. (Ferrandiz Mach, Marta).
• Interventional treatments for hypopressive and trigeminal-autonomic headaches. (Melo Cruz, Martha Cristina; Revuelta Rizo, Miren Eli).

Scientific Challenges

• To establish possible differences in brain area involvement between acute and chronic pain.
• To improve the efficacy and safety of neuromodulation techniques, both electrical and chemical.
• To enhance neuromodulation at the hospital level to become a regional reference center.
• Participation of the pain and neurosciences team in the National Health System CSUR project for brain and spinal cord neuromodulation in refractory neuropathic pain within the Neurosurgery Unit at Hospital de Sant Pau.
• To determine the extent of chronic pain according to the involvement of different brain areas and whether these alterations can improve with pain relief.
• To unify and harmonize databases to create profiles and clusters of patients with chronic pain.
• To improve hospital prescribing of postoperative analgesic guidelines while preserving patient safety.
• To determine whether the intensity of chronic neuropathic pain reported by patients correlates with psychopathological factors, mainly anxiety, depression, and catastrophizing.
• To determine the profile of patients who would benefit from treatment with major systemic opioids in relation to nighttime rest and establish the most appropriate opioid.
• To establish the recommended opioid dose to initiate treatment and strategies for withdrawal.
• To determine how chronic pain interferes with sleep. (Ferrándiz, Marta).

Contact

Maria Mercè Genové
mgenove@santpau.cat