Table 1.

PICOS framework

Population	Adult patients with PHN
Interventions	IPM for PHN*
Controls	Comparison with other intervention (nonsurgical)
Outcomes	Primary objective:
	• Pain at fixed time points after the intervention
	Secondary objectives:
	• Quality of sleep using any of the reported questionnaires
	• Analgesic consumption after the intervention
	• Functional evaluation and quality of life assessment after the intervention overall adverse events, if any
Study design	Randomized controlled trials
	Observational studies
	Case series

*Intervention studies include any intrathecal MP, ESIs (interlaminar or transforaminal), paravertebral blocks/neurolysis, intercostal nerve chemical neurolysis, intercostal nerve and DRG-pulsed RFA, stellate ganglion blocks, and spinal cord stimulation