Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Apr 2012
ReviewIntranasal fentanyl in the treatment of acute pain--a systematic review.
Due to its non-invasive mode of administration, intranasal (IN) application of drugs may be a valuable alternative to non-invasive pain management. With characteristics that appear to be ideal for IN application, IN fentanyl may have a place in the out-of-hospital treatment and the paediatric population. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the current evidence of IN fentanyl in the treatment of acute pain. ⋯ In the paediatric population, results demonstrated some analgesic effect of IN fentanyl following myringotomy, no analgesic effect following voiding cystourethrography, and finally, no significant analgesic difference after long bone fractures, in burns patients, and in post-operative pain relief when compared to IV morphine, oral morphine, or IV fentanyl, respectively. Significant analgesic effect of IN fentanyl was demonstrated in the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients. However, the significant deficiencies in trials investigating acute and post-operative pain, and the paediatric population makes firm recommendations impossible.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Apr 2012
ReviewDesflurane: a clinical update of a third-generation inhaled anaesthetic.
Available volatile anaesthetics are safe and efficacious; however, their varying pharmacology provides small but potentially clinically important differences. Desflurane is one of the third-generation inhaled anaesthetics. It is the halogenated inhaled anaesthetic with the lowest blood and tissue solubilities, which promotes its rapid equilibration and its rapid elimination following cessation of administration at the end of anaesthesia. ⋯ In addition, the use of desflurane promotes early and predictable extubation, and the ability to rapidly transfer patients from the operating theatre to the recovery area, which has a positive impact on patient turnover. Desflurane also increases the likelihood of patients, including obese patients, recovering their protective airway reflexes and awakening to a degree sufficient to minimise the stay in the high dependency recovery area. The potential impact of the rapid early recovery from desflurane anaesthesia on intermediate and late recovery and resumption of activities of daily living requires further study.