Time to opioid administration after implementation of an intranasal fentanyl protocol

Prompt and effective analgesia is a mainstay of emergency department (ED) medicine; however, it is often delayed in times of overcrowding and by the need to establish intravenous (IV) access. Thus, noninvasive analgesic administration by means of the intranasal route could potentially reduce time to analgesic administration by eliminating IV line insertion.

This retrospective study evaluated time from physician entry into patient's room to opioid administration after implementation of an intranasal fentanyl protocol. Data were collected on pediatric patients who received intranasal fentanyl in the ED 225 days after protocol implementation. Time to opioid administration was then evaluated against historical controls given IV opioids in the same ED 90 days before protocol implementation.

Seven patients were included in the intranasal fentanyl group and were evaluated against 47 patients given IV opioids. Time from physician entry into patient's room to opioid administration was significantly reduced for intranasal fentanyl (20.43 ± 11.54 minutes) vs IV opioids (42.04 ± 31.55 minutes; P = .002), and IV line insertion was avoided in all 7 intranasal fentanyl patients. No significant differences in adverse events were noted.

This study provides evidence that administration of fentanyl via the intranasal route in the ED decreases time to administration of opioids in pediatric patients.