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Papers of the Week


2022 Sep 05


Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther

Are we ready to manage an opioid epidemic in the intensive care unit?

Authors

Das A, Sharma A, Kothari N, Goyal S
Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther. 2022 Sep 05.
PMID: 36062420.

Abstract

The current opioid epidemic has had a massive impact on the critical care sector. This is due to an increase in the number of acute opioid overdose-related admissions and the number of opioid-dependent and opioid-tolerant patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). This review discusses the challenges that intensive care physicians face when caring for patients suffering from opioid-related disorders and analyses existing solutions. Preference for non-opioid analgesics, treatment of acute pain in the ICUs to avoid chronic pain syndrome, and education of patients and caregivers are critical to preventing this pandemic.