Opioid use during the perianesthesia period: nursing implications.
Opioids are used extensively for pain management during the perianesthesia period. These compounds exhibit varying degrees of agonism and antagonism at mu, kappa, and Delta opioid receptors. Stimulation of these receptors cause similar and distinctive actions such as analgesia, euphoria, dysphoria, and respiratory depression. It is imperative that perianesthesia nurses have a clear understanding of opioid receptor site physiology so that maximum analgesic effects are obtained while side effects are minimized.
Bennett
J
J
Program at the School of Nursing, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Wren
K R
KR
Haas
R
R
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000187:drug effects; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000187:drug effects; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000187:drug effects
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu