Objective: This study aims to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R-TR).
Methods: A methodological and cross-sectional design was used. This study included a total of 250 surgical patients (98 males, 152 females) between January 2015 and January 2016. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the APS-POQ-R. Language equivalence, content and construct validity, and reliability of the scale were evaluated.
Results: The Pearson correlation coefficient of the scale for parallel test reliability was 0.362, and the Cronbach’s alpha value was determined as 0.88 in the APS-POQ-R-TR. According to fit indexes of the confirmatory factor analysis [x2/SD=362.53/125=2.90; RMSEA=0.087 (90% CI: 0.077–0.098); CFI=0.95; IFI=0.95; NNFI=0.94], three factors were found to be appropriate for the APS-POQ-R-TR.
Conclusion: The adaptation of the translated APS-POQ-R in Turkey is reliable and valid to measure and evaluate the quality of postoperative pain management in the Turkish population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block guided with ultrasound (USG) and local anesthetic infiltration (LAI) in terms of the intraoperative and postoperative analgesia efficiency, intraoperative opioid need, and side effects in cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Methods: A total of 75 patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II were included in this randomized, controlled, prospective study and divided into 3 groups. 20 mL of levobupivacaine 0.5% was applied around the trocar entrance site before the operation to group L (n=25), and 30 mL 0.25% levobupivacaine was applied with a USG-guided TAP block to group T (n=25). No TAP block or LAI was applied to the control group (n=25), group K. In the first 24 hours after surgery, an infusion of tramadol was administered with a controlled analgesia device. The intraoperative fentanyl use was recorded, and a visual analogue scale was administered to assess pain while resting (VASrest) and upon coughing (VAScough) at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours postoperative. An evaluation of shoulder pain and the consumption of analgesia in 24 hours were also recorded.
Results: The VASrest and VAScough values, the dose of fentanyl used intraoperatively, and the total analgesia dose administered in 24 hours were compared between groups and there was no statistically significant difference detected (p>0.05). In group T, the vomiting rate 1 and 2 hours postoperative (20% and 12%, respectively) was significantly lower than in group K (64% and 44%, respectively).
Conclusion: The efficiency of the analgesia provided after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a bilateral TAP block guided with USG and LAI was determined to be similar.

Objectives: Transient neurological symptoms (TNS) after spinal anesthesia vary from dysesthesia that is hardly noticed to severe pain. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of TNS and provocative risk factors in 591 patients who underwent central block.
Methods: Before the operation, demographic data and features of the operation and the block were recorded. The patients were evaluated at postoperative 24 and 48 hours and day 7 with regard to TNS in the form of pain (headache, lower back and/or limb pain, backache, pain in the puncture region) and sensation disorders (paresthesia, hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, anesthesia, dysesthesia).
Results: The incidence of TNS among the study patients was 35.7%. It was significantly higher in gynecology and urology patients and was higher in female patients in comparison with male patients. The incidence of TNS was greater when blood in the needle/catheter, pain, or paresthesia was seen, but was not associated with LA agents used in the study.
Conclusion: A similar TNS incidence was seen in the results of this study as has been reported in the literature. A greater number of attempts, the lithotomy position, and co-morbidities such as ASHD and DM increase the incidence of TNS.

Objectives: This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to identify and summarize non-pharmacologic practices used by nurses to reduce or relieve postoperative pain and the effect of such practices on pain and to criticize current evidence.
Methods: Research data were acquired by searching in the “Turkish National Database of Dissertations” in January 02 to January 31, 2016. The research sample included 13 doctoral dissertations conducted in 2000–2015 in Turkey that meet the research criteria. The dissertations included were manually evaluated for the year of registry in the database, disciplines, sample group, type and objective of the study, methods used for pain management, methods for pain assessment, and results of the study.
Results: Of the dissertations, 84.6% were conducted in adult patient population and approximately half of them were quasi-experimental/experimental studies. When the dissertations were searched by methods of pain control, 80% of dissertations were performed on non-pharmacologic methods. Among non-pharmacologic methods, massage and relaxation exercises were the most widely used methods at 18.6%.
Conclusion: Non-pharmacologic pain management is an effective way to reduce pain severity and it can be independently used by nurses. Researchers of dissertations often choose non-pharmacologic practices that have no side effects, have minimum risk, are not detrimental to patients, are easy to administer, and are cost-efficient. Effective non-pharmacologic methods specific to groups by age, sex, and medical diagnosis should be identified by literature review for each non-pharmacologic method in future studies.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the pain beliefs of patients and nonpharmacological methods they use to manage their pain.
Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted with the participation of 163 patients who were hospitalized in the medical and surgical clinics of a university hospital in May 2011. The study data were collected using personal information forms, a nonpharmacological methods form, and a pain belief scale. The data were evaluated using number, percentage, an independent sample t-test, and analysis of variance.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.7±16.6 years, and it was determined that 23.3% were hospitalized for urinary system diseases, while 21.5% were hospitalized for musculoskeletal system diseases. It was observed that 93.8% of the patients described experiencing pain in the past, while 22.7% described experiencing severe pain within the previous week. The types of pain most frequently described by the patients were headaches (24.8%), joint pain (21.6%), and lumbar pain (19.6%). It was determined that 72.3% of the patients used medication for pain, and that 49.1% also resorted to nonpharmacological methods for their pain. Frequently preferred nonpharmacological methods included hot and cold therapy, massage, and herbal methods. The mean organic score on the pain belief scale (23.6±4.57) was higher than the mean psychological score (19.9±2.64).
Conclusion: Evaluating the pain beliefs of patients and the nonpharmacological methods used is important for effective management of pain.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by cutaneous and/or plexiform neurofibromas and hyperpigmented café-au-lait spots. It affects multiple endocrine and visceral organs and can be associated with several difficulties such as potential airway (ventilation/intubation) problems, abnormal spinal anatomy, and peripheral neurofibromas. Therefore, anesthesia technique selection becomes more of an issue in terms of avoiding complications and decreasing morbidity and mortality. In the present case, we describe the use of ultrasound and the successful performance of supraclavicular brachial plexus block for surgery on the arm and forearm in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1.

An ultrasound-guided dorsal penile nerve (DPN) block was performed for postoperative analgesia in a 6-year-old, 19 kg, American Society of Anesthesiologists class II patient undergoing hypospadias surgery. The block was applied following the induction of general anesthesia. Anesthesia maintenance was provided with sevoflurane 2% in a 1: 2 ratio of oxygen and nitrous oxide. The DPN block was performed using 0.2 mL/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine. Almost 24 hours of analgesia was provided following surgery.

A schwannoma, also known as a neurilemoma, is composed of Schwann cells, and is the most common benign tumor of the peripheral nerves. It commonly appears as a solitary lesion in the head and neck region. The diagnosis is based on ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathological examination. This encapsulated tumor has a good prognosis with a low recurrence rate after surgical removal. This case report is a description of a forearm schwannoma that initially appeared to be a ganglion cyst.