THE USE OF INTRAVENOUS OPIOIDS TO PROVIDE ANALGESIA IN CRITICALLY ILL, PREMATURE NEONATES - A RESEARCH CRITIQUE

The intravenous (IV) administration of opioids to neonates is a common method of providing analgesia in the intensive care setting. This pap er reviews and critiques the studies that have investigated this inter vention. The studies are grouped into four major areas: pharmacokineti c studies; IV opioids for anesthesia; IV opioids for sedation or analg esia in mechanically ventilated neonates; and cardiorespiratory effect s of IV opioids. An attempt is made to synthesize current knowledge ab out the analgesic effects and side effects associated with the use of IV opioids in neonates. The intent is to stimulate additional research on the management of neonatal pain using opioid analgesics. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 1998.