Journal of pain and symptom management
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This article reviews the currently published articles regarding the use of spinal opioids in pediatric patients and discusses the important clinical considerations for the application and monitoring of this technique in children.
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This review presents the pharmacology of spinal opioid receptor systems which are primarily involved in pain processing. The major areas upon which we will focus are: the structure and cellular functioning of the opioid receptor systems; the physiologic effects induced by spinally administered opioids, particularly in pain modulation; and pharmacokinetic and dynamic considerations, with special attention to the problem of opioid tolerance development.