Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Emergency Medicine Research Center, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Student Research Committee, Emergency Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Emergency Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Several studies were performed to evaluate the efficacy of different pain management in patients with trauma, using different methods.
Objectives: To compare intravenous (IV) morphine vs. fentanyl for analgesic response, the time to reach lowest pain score, and adverse effects in patients with trauma who were referred to Emergency Department (ED).
Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial (June-December 2017) was performed on adult traumatic patients, who were referred to the EDs of two main trauma centers (Affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences), in southern Iran. The inclusion criteria were acute pain >4 on a numeric rating scale (NRS) 0-10 upon presentation. The patients were randomly allocated to receive a single dose of IV morphine (0.1 mg/kg) or IV fentanyl (2 µg/kg). The pain score was recorded at baseline, 5, 10, 30, and 120 minutes after administration of either morphine or fentanyl, as well as adverse effects. Then, the data were analyzed.
Results: 167 patients were enrolled. The initial NRS in both groups was similar. The mean±SD of NRS at all times was higher in fentanyl group, except in 10 minutes, but only in 120 minutes, this difference was statistically significant (P=0.01). The mean±SD of pain reduction at all times was similar in both groups. The incidence of adverse effects in both groups were not different (P=0.18).
Conclusion: IV fentanyl had a similar analgesic effect to IV morphine in traumatic patients with acute pain. Also, there was no significant difference in terms of adverse effects between groups.

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