Journal of opioid management
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Observational Study
Safety profile of intraoperative methadone for analgesia after major spine surgery: An observational study of 1,478 patients.
To investigate the incidence of perioperative adverse events in patients receiving intravenous methadone for major spine surgery. ⋯ Mild-moderate respiratory depression is observed following a one-time dose of intraoperative methadone, and monitoring in an appropriate postoperative setting is recommended.
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Identify opioid abuse risk factors among chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) patients receiving long-term opioid therapy and assess healthcare resource use (HRU) among patients at elevated abuse risk. ⋯ This study identifies a subpopulation of CNCP patients at risk of opioid abuse. However, limited sensitivity and specificity of criteria defining this subpopulation reinforce the importance of physician discretion in patient-level treatment decisions.
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of the effect of extended-release epidural morphine versus intravenous patient-controlled analgesia on respiratory depression.
Extended-release epidural morphine (EREM) is a single-dose, extended-release epidural morphine formulation intended to provide postoperative pain relief over a 48-hour period. There have been a few randomized controlled trials investigating the use and safety of EREM versus intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with opioids (IV-PCA); however, the adverse event of respiratory depression of this treatment is unclear. The authors have undertaken a meta-analysis to examine this issue. ⋯ Although perioperative single-dose epidural EREM (versus IV-PCA) was effective for postoperative pain relief for up to 48 hours, it is associated with significantly higher odds of respiratory depression. Further examination of the issue of respiratory depression of epidural EREM may be warranted.
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Review Meta Analysis
Analgesic efficacy of intravenous naloxone for the treatment of postoperative pruritus: a meta-analysis.
Pruritus may be a significant problem for patients in the postoperative period. There are many options for the treatment of pruritus including intravenous (IV) naloxone. However, it is not clear whether the use of IV naloxone may also affect analgesia or other opioid-related side effects. The authors have performed a systematic review to further examine this issue. ⋯ Our pooled analysis examining the analgesic efficacy of IV naloxone (either as a continuous infusion or IV PCA) revealed that naloxone was associated with a decrease in pruritus and nausea without any increase in pain scores. When compared with controls, the use of IV naloxone was not associated with any significant changes in opioid consumption or with the risk of sedation or emesis.
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The study explored high-risk participants' experiences with pain management regarding clinical access to and use of prescription opioids. ⋯ Participant struggles with receiving and managing prescribed opioid analgesics suggest a need for: therapies beyond these medications; guidelines for providers specific to this population; and harm reduction trainings for providers.