[Periodic sublingual buprenorphine for pain relief after upper abdominal surgery]

Analgesic effects were evaluated in patients who received sublingual administration of buprenorphine (0.2mg ampule for injection) as programmed every 8 hours for 3 days following upper abdominal surgery. Patients who received periodic sublingual buprenorphine obtained satisfactory postoperative analgesia and also required less analgesics than those who never received periodic administration of analgesics. Approximately one half of patients who received periodic sublingual buprenorphine required no additional analgesics. Arterial blood-gas analysis showed a significant increase in carbon dioxide tension after sublingual buprenorphine. One patient revealed marked respiratory acidosis after sublingual buprenorphine. These results suggest that periodic sublingual buprenorphine makes up for slow onset in sublingual administration and that it is also effective, convenient, and safe for pain relief after upper abdominal surgery. We, however, should pay attention to the respiratory depression caused by sublingual buprenorphine.