The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Patient-controlled transdermal fentanyl hydrochloride vs. intravenous morphine pump for postoperative pain. A randomized controlled trial JAMA 2004; 291: 1333-1341.

Published: 1st January 2004

Authors: Viscusi ER, Reynolds L, Chung F, Atkinson LE, Khanna S.

Conclusion

The transdermal route for fentanyl was as effective as conventional intravenous morphine in this study that included 636 adults who underwent major surgery. Pain control was good or excellent during the first 24h in 73.7 per cent of patients who had fentanyl and 76.9 per cent of those who had morphine, p=0.36.

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