Sublingual Versus Endovenous Fentanyl for Pain Treatment in Trauma Patients in the Emergency Room

Sublingual Versus Endovenous Fentanyl for Pain Treatment in Trauma Patients in the ER - a Double-blind Randomized Prospective Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the non-inferiority of the efficacy of sublingual given fentanyl versus endovenous given fentanyl for patients in the emergency departement.

Fentanyl endovenous (ev) is an excellent analgesic drug for pain relief in acute traumatic pain. Fentanyl sublingual (Abstral ®) is an excellent analgesic drug in the breakthrough pain relief in oncologic patients.

The immediate (10 minutes) effect and the ease of administration of sublingual fentanyl could be a possibility for a fast pain relief in remote areas such as mountain rescue missions.

Patients will be recruited according to a randomized list to fentanyl ev or fentanyl sublingual versus placebo oral or placebo ev.

Safety issues like control of vital signs will be warranted

Inclusion Criteria:

• Trauma on the limbs with a pain score of 4 or more
• ASA I - II

Exclusion Criteria:

• children < 18 years
• cognitive impairment: brain injury, intoxication, analgesia
• weight under 50 kg and more then 100 kg
• other injuries like chest trauma with respiratory insufficiency, suspect liver or spleen injury, amputation;
• chronic analgesic use or misuse
• allergy
• fear of needles
• pregnancy
• speech difficulties