This month we are happy to share the experience of one of our EFIC Fellows, Katarina Savić Vujović, who had the opportunity to attend the EFIC fellowship at the Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic, General Hospital Klinikum Klagenfurt am Worthersee in Austria:
‘’During this fellowship I was able to get an overview of medical and invasive methods in pain therapy and palliative care:
- Oral and transdermal pharmacological treatments with analgesics and other agents used for chronic pain syndromes (anticonvulsants, psychotropics etc.)
- Nerve blocks: reversible blocks (CT guided, under fluoroscopic control) and neurolytic blocks (chemical and thermal).
- Radiofrequency, cryotherapy (in cooperation with neurosurgery department): gasserian ganglion, peripheral nerves, facet joint denervation.
- Subcutaneous and intravenous administration of opioids with pain pumps
- Spinal opioid (SNX 111) analgesia (in cooperation with neurosurgery department): trial with catheter with a port, Implantation of medication pumps (volume flow-controlled gas pressure pumps, electronically programmable pumps).
- Spinal cord stimulation (in cooperation with neurosurgery department)
- TENS
- Provision of psychotherapeutic support (pain coping training, behavioral therapy) and learning of relaxation methods (biofeedback, Jacobson).
I would like to thank Prof. Likar and his team for the great time, for teaching and explaining many techniques and procedures for different kinds of pain.
This was a great opportunity to practice for me. As assistant professor at the Department of pharmacology, clinical pharmacology and toxicology, all the things I saw put my theoretical knowledge into practice. I have to thank all people at the clinic especially Prof. Likar; Dr Younis; Dr Frederic; Dr Gabriela, Dr Marcus (sorry if I misspelled your name); Alice Wachner and Anna Oberkofler.’
Katarina Savić Vujović’’
For more information on this project please visit our EFIC Fellowship page.
