Papers of the Week

An obstacle to analysis of the long-term effectiveness of intrathecal (IT) opioids is absence of historical patient baseline data. The electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) is an initiative of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. Recently published ePPOC data has provided justifiable surrogate baseline data allowing opportunities for pain outcomes research into select patient treatment groups. Our aim was to compare long-term outcomes of IT opioid therapy with a surrogate baseline utilizing a large ePPOC data set for patients at the time of initial presentation to 36 pain clinics in Australia and New Zealand.