Sublingual Sufentanil vs Intravenous Fentanyl for Acute Pain in the Ambulatory Surgery Center

Sublingual Sufentanil vs Intravenous Fentanyl for Acute Pain in the Ambulatory Surgery Center

The purpose of this study is to determine if a single dose of sublingual sufentanil is as or more efficacious than a single dose of IV fentanyl in a post anesthesia care setting.

This is a level I randomized prospective outcomes study comparing two groups of patients. Upon arrival in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) if the patient has a pain score of 4 or greater they will then be randomized to one of two groups. Group 1 will receive 50 mcg of IV fentanyl and group 2 will receive 30 mcg of sublingual sufentanil. The primary outcome assessed will be time of readiness to discharge after arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit.

Inclusion Criteria:

• undergoing outpatient ambulatory surgery
• recipient of general anesthesia
• pain score of 4 or greater in the PACU

Exclusion Criteria:

• non-english speaking patients
• cancer surgeries
• patients who have allergy or intolerance to the study drugs or derivatives
• patients on chronic opioids (defined as daily opioids for 3 months or longer)