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Published on: May 26, 2023
Opioid-free anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Minke L Feenstra1, Simone Jansen2, Wietse J Eshuis3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, AGEM, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) shows no significant difference in acute pain or opioid use compared to opioid-based anesthesia (OBA). However, OFA may improve quality of recovery, though more research on chronic pain is needed.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pain Management
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Opioid-based anesthesia (OBA) is standard for managing perioperative pain.
- Concerns exist regarding opioid-related side effects and the development of chronic pain.
- Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is an alternative approach aiming to mitigate these issues.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support recommending OFA over OBA or vice versa for managing acute pain or opioid consumption.
- Further high-quality research is needed, particularly focusing on quality of recovery and the long-term effects of OFA on chronic pain.
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