Pain

Program Description:

The management of acute and chronic pain, cancer pain, painful syndromes, intractable pain, acute postop pain, and other similar situations requiring skills, expertise, and experience. In Islamic Republic of Iran due to the presence of adequate specialized personnel interested in the subject; it seems that pain management as well as prevention of pain related complication in   these patients by proper evaluation and diagnosis based on the latest findings and up-to-date scientific principles is possible. To this end, compilation committee of pain fellowship curriculum was established to develop the pain Fellowship curriculum in the field of anesthesiology through consulting experts, assessing the curricula of the universities in and out of IRI. Since this course is currently hold in several medical  universities, development of this curriculum is a step for determining the expected minimums, improving the quality of teaching during this course, as well as improving the quality of services.

Definition

This fellowship has been designed for the field of anesthesiology, and the graduates are engaged in assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of acute, chronic, and cancer pain by making use of other related fields and medical approaches and interventional procedures.

Objectives:

1-To train knowledgeable, competent, and efficient specialists who are committed to professionalism and provide the society with their knowledge and expertise in the areas of education, research, and services related to ensuring, maintaining, and promoting health.

2- In the next ten years, we will achieve international standards educationally.

Expected Competencies at the End of the Program

General Competencies*

Specific Competencies and Skills

Procedural Skills (Diagnostic-Therapeutic Procedures):

Head and neck nerve blocks and interventional procedures (stellate ganglion, esphenopalatine, trigeminal, and occipital)

Lumbar and thoracic sympathetic nerve blocks and interventional procedures

Transforaminal epidural nerve blocks and interventional procedures (cervical, lumbar, thoracic, and caudal)

Inserting the central and peripheral nerve catheters

Celiac plexus, splanchnic,  hypogastric plexus, and impar blocks and interventional procedures

Paravertebral and intercostal nerve blocks and interventional procedures

Facet joints injections (cervical, lumbar, and thoracic)

Piriformis, psoas, and quadratus lumborum nerve blocks and interventional procedures

Performing peripheral nerve blocks

Performing peripheral nerve blocks using ultrasound

Neurolytic interventional procedures using radio waves

Chemical neurolytic interventional procedures

Applying injection pumps (PCIA, PCEA, and PCRA)

Insertion and control of implantable intrathecal pumps and ports

Nerve blocks and interventional and percutaneous procedures, and minimally invasive spinal procedures using imaging

Epiduroscopy 

Insertion and control of the spinal cord stimulator