
Background: Intranasal (IN) fentanyl provides rapid and powerful non-parenteral analgesia in the ED. A concentrated solution of fentanyl (300 mg/mL) has been used in prior trials, yet many ED use the standard solution at a concentration of 50 mg/mL, which is widely available and of low cost. We set out to determine if this lower concentration of fentanyl is also efficacious. Methods: Prospective audit in children aged 5–18 years presenting with upper limb injuries. Patients received IN fentanyl (50 mg/mL) at 1.5 mg/kg. Patient assessed pain scores were collected 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min following IN fentanyl administration using a visual analogue scale or Bieri Faces – Revised scale. Parental scores were used if patients were unable to provide a score. Results: Of the 59 eligible patients, 36 were enrolled; median age was 6.8 years (range 5–15 years), and 89% (32/36) ultimately required fracture reduction. Median first dose of IN fentanyl was 1.4 mg/kg. Median pain scores dropped from 7 (interquartile range 5–10) pre-fentanyl to 5 (interquartile range 4–8) at 5 min and 2 (interquartile range 1–4) at 30 and 60 min. A total of 21 (58%) children did not require further analgesia in the ED. There were no adverse events. Conclusions: Standard i.v. concentration IN fentanyl (50 mg/mL) appears to have analgesic efficacy in children with upper limb injuries.
Life Support Care, Biomedical Research, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Australia, Humans, Child, Emergency Treatment, United States, New Zealand
Life Support Care, Biomedical Research, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Australia, Humans, Child, Emergency Treatment, United States, New Zealand
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