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| Scott A. Brancolini, MD, MPH | Franklyn P. Cladis, MD, MBA, FAAP |
The A&A Practice article "Utilization of Propofol as an Analgesic Adjuvant in the Multimodal Management of Acute Erythromelalgia Secondary to Lyme Disease Neuropathy: A Case Report" explores the potential role of propofol beyond its conventional use as an anesthetic. The case report describes how low dose propofol infusion (0.3 mg/kg/h over 6 to 24 hours) provided significant pain relief in a pediatric patient suffering from erythromelalgia, a debilitating neuropathic pain condition linked to Lyme disease. These findings suggests that propofol may have a valuable role as an analgesic adjuvant in multimodal pain management strategies, particularly for refractory neuropathic pain.
Authored by faculty members Scott A. Brancolini, MD, MPH, Associate Professor and Director of our Chronic Pain Resident and Medical Student Rotations, and Franklyn P. Cladis, MD, MBA, FAAP, Professor and Health Sciences Endowed Chair in Pediatric Anesthesiology, Chief Anesthesiologist at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and Program Director of our Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, the study also features exceptional contributions from resident and fellow co-authors:
 | Stephanie Parry, MD, a graduate of our Combined Anesthesiology-Pediatrics Residency and Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, now a faculty member at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh |
 | Elizabeth Pickle, MD, a graduate of our Anesthesiology Residency Program, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship, and Pain Medicine Fellowship, now a faculty member in UPMC Pain Management at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh |
 | Madeline Bireley, MD, currently a PGY-4 Resident in our Combined Anesthesiology-Pediatrics Program |
This work bridges the fields of anesthesiology and pediatric chronic pain management by demonstrating how an anesthetic agent traditionally used for sedation and induction can be repurposed for analgesia in complex pain syndromes. The study underscores the potential for anesthesiologists to contribute to innovative pain management approaches, particularly in pediatric populations where treatment options for severe neuropathic pain are limited. By expanding the therapeutic scope of propofol, this research paves the way for further investigation into its safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action in chronic pain management beyond the operating room.