Articles: opioid-analgesics.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2021
Opioid Use Increases the Risk of Delirium in Critically Ill Adults Independently of Pain.
Rationale: It is unclear whether opioid use increases the risk of ICU delirium. Prior studies have not accounted for confounding, including daily severity of illness, pain, and competing events that may preclude delirium detection. Objectives: To evaluate the association between ICU opioid exposure, opioid dose, and delirium occurrence. ⋯ Any opioid administration in awake patients without delirium was associated with an increased risk for delirium the next day [OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.24-1.69]. Each daily 10-mg intravenous morphine-equivalent dose was associated with a 2.4% increased risk for delirium the next day. Conclusions: The receipt of an opioid in the ICU increases the odds of transitioning to delirium in a dose-dependent fashion.
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Observational Study
Inpatient Opioid Consumption Variability following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Analysis of 4,038 Procedures.
This study examined an early iteration of an inpatient opioid administration-reporting tool, which standardized patient opioid consumption as an average daily morphine milligram equivalence per surgical encounter (MME/day/encounter) among total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recipients. The objective was to assess the variability of inpatient opioid administration rates among surgeons after implementation of a multimodal opioid sparing pain protocol. We queried the electronic medical record at our institution for patients undergoing elective primary TKA between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2018. ⋯ Our results suggest that there is intrainstitutional variability in opioid administration following primary TKA even after controlling for potential patient risk factors. TKA candidates may benefit from the implementation of a more rigid standardization of multimodal pain management protocols that can control pain while minimizing the opioid burden. This is a level of evidence III, retrospective observational analysis.
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We present the case of an 89-year-old patient with impaired consciousness for whom the emergency services were called. She was soporose and showed a pronounced generalized muscle rigidity. Due to a third-party history the incorrect use of a fentanyl patch was found out to be at cause. ⋯ The application of fentanyl via the skin in the form of transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) has become more popular over the years. Incorrect administration causes intoxication with the leading symptoms of loss of consciousness and respiratory depression. This case report extends the spectrum of symptoms to include skeletal muscle rigidity otherwise only described in connection with intravenous administration, especially in anaesthetic settings.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2021
Case ReportsA Case of Unintentional Opioid (U-47700) Overdose in a Young Adult After Counterfeit Xanax Use.
We report the case of a young adult who became unresponsive after insufflating what he believed to be "crushed Xanax." Naloxone was administered, reversing his altered mental status and respiratory depression. Clinicians suspected opioid toxicity; however, the patient adamantly denied opioid use. Because of unclear etiology of his symptoms, blood and urine specimens were obtained. ⋯ In this case, a young adult intending to use alprazolam encountered U-47700 with life-threatening effect. Clinicians must remain vigilant for symptoms consistent with opioid overdose, especially with increasing prevalence of counterfeit drugs containing clandestine opioids. Clinicians must also consider obtaining specimens for appropriate analytical testing to improve surveillance and facilitate public health interventions.