Sublingual buprenorphine for acute postoperative cancer pain: a retrospective study

Abstract Background Sublingual buprenorphine is an atypical opioid that potentially has a wider safety profile than conventional opioids. However, there paucity of literature concerning its role in acute postoperative pain. Aim To describe the use sublingual including efficacy and for management pain at comprehensive cancer centre. Method A retrospective study analgesia after surgery between 1 June 2015 to 31 October 2016. Outcome measures included scores (Verbal Numerical Rating Scale), dosage, oral morphine equivalent daily dose before treatment, adverse events, co‐analgesia, duration treatment length stay. Patients were categorised as responders or non‐responders based on their response. Ethics approved by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Expedited Review Committee (approval no. 18/59R). Results Sixty‐six patients with mean age 62.8 years 53% male. Of those, 86.3% (55/66) treatment. Pain significantly lower compared 4.2 versus 7.3 (p < 0.05). was well tolerated low event frequency (10.6%), nausea/vomiting reported most commonly. All prescribed least one co‐analgesic. The 6.2 days no difference stay groups. Conclusion After surgery, can benefit from due safe overall self‐reported efficacy. Further research recommended account confounders larger cohort.