| Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools. |
Transdermal fentanyl for pain relief in a paediatric palliative care populationInstitute of Child Health, London; RCN Institute, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford
Institute of Child Health, London
Paediatric Oncology Department, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton
Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, Llandough Hospital, Penarth, on behalf of FEN-GBR-14 Study Group This multicentre, observational study examined the efficacy of the therapeutic transdermal fentanyl system (TTS-fentanyl) in children requiring opioids for pain in life-threatening disease. Forty-one children receiving oral morphine (median dose 60 mg/day) transferred to transdermal fentanyl (median dose 25 g/h according with the manufacturer's dose conversion guidelines). Twenty-six children completed the 15-day treatment phase, seven died due to disease progression and eight were withdrawn because of adverse events, inadequate analgesia or a change to parenteral opioids. After 15 days, the median fentanyl dose was 75 g/h (range 25–250). No serious adverse events were attributed to fentanyl. There was a trend toward improved side-effects and convenience with fentanyl. Twenty-three of 26 parents (three missing) and 25 of 26 investigators considered transdermal fentanyl to be better than previous treatment. For all records available (at 15 days or on withdrawal if earlier), 75% (27/36) reported that fentanyl treatment was ‘good' or ‘very good’. The findings suggest that transdermal fentanyl is both effective and acceptable for children and their families.
Key Words: child • pain • analgesics • opioid • terminal care • palliative care
Palliative Medicine, Vol. 15, No. 5,
405-412 (2001) This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
 |
|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
