Sufentanil: an overview of its use for acute pain management.

UNLABELLED The knowledge of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of new opioid drugs is necessary so that anaesthesiologists can choose which one to use, considering the patient's pathophysiology, the surgical procedure, and the dose required to obtain the desired effect. Aim of this review was to evaluate relevant trials on perioperative sufentanil in order to design an optimal strategy for administration. METHODS Randomised controlled trials on perioperative sufentanil analgesia were identified by Medline research, Embase, Biosis, Scisearch and references mentioned in relevant reviews were hand searched from 1988 to June 2001. RESULTS Twenty-four trials were considered eligible; they were divided according to the use of sufentanil in abdominal surgery, paediatric surgery and other types of surgery (orthopaedic, maxillo-facial, thoracotomy, lithotripsy, etc.). It was possible to compare the use of iv and epidural sufentanil, in iv PCA and PCEA, in continuous infusion, alone or in combination with local anaesthetics (various concentrations of ropivacaine, bupivacaine), with clonidine, adrenaline and ketamine. CONCLUSIONS Efficacy of sufentanil in perioperative epidural or intravenous analgesia resulted the same or better than other drugs used commonly despite context-sensible half-life advantages. Its association with local anaesthetics or adjuvant drugs prolongs its action and sometimes decreases the side effects. From the examined trials results that sufentanil can be used at very low doses and its association with local anaesthetics, clonidine, ketamine, and adrenaline by epidural, intravenous or intrathecal route for perioperative analgesia (intra and postoperative) and by various types of administration (PCA, PCEA, fixed intervals doses, continuous infusion, etc.).