Opioids for acute pain management in children
This narrative review begins with a summary of the applied pharmacology of opioids in paediatrics and spends a section on each most commonly prescribed opioid in paediatric critical care, including tapentadol. It then jumps to opioid rotation, IV to enteral conversions, and the place of slow-release opioids in the setting of acute pain. This is followed by a reach across to discussions of special groups including children with obesity, children with obstructive sleep apnoea, and the opioid tolerant child. Finally, the article concludes on the practical aspects of discharging patients with opioids for home management. This is a synthesis of the current understanding of the practical aspects of opioid prescription in the acute setting.
Reviewed by Dr. Philip Cheung
