title: Intranasal fentanyl provides adequate postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate intranasally administered fentanyl for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two children aged four to eight years, ASA physical status I and II were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. In the postoperative care unit, patients were allocated to receive fentanyl, using a double-blind study design, either intranasally (Group I) or intravenously (Group II) in small titrated doses until they became pain free or side effects appeared which prohibited continuation of the drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory analgesia was achieved in both groups, though the required drug dosage was higher in the intranasal group (1.43 +/- 0.39 microg.kg(-1)). Onset of analgesia tended to be slower via the intranasal route compared to the iv route (13 +/- 4.5 vs 8.3 +/- 3.08 min; P=not significant). Side effects observed in this series were within an acceptable range and similar for both modalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intranasal route provides a good alternative for administration of fentanyl in pediatric surgical patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, N.R.S. Medical College, Calcutta, India. manjushriray@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manjushree
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahiri
authors.forename: Bablu Rani
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Arpita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laha
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Handa
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005283:Fentanyl