title: Effect of transdermal fentanyl patches on the motility of the sphincter of oddi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pain is one of the most troublesome symptoms of pancreatitis. Transdermal fentanyl patches (TFPs) are long-acting analgesics with a reduced risk of dependency. This prospective study evaluated the effect of TFPs on sphincter of Oddi (SO) motility for the management of pain in pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  SO manometry (SOM) was performed using triple-lumen catheters anterogradely inserted through the percutaneous transhepatic route during cholangioscopy in 16 patients. The basal pressure, amplitude, and frequency of the SO were assessed before and after applying a TFP at 24 hour at doses of 25 and 12.5µg/hr, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two of 16 patients receiving a 25µg/hr. TFP were excluded because of adverse side effects (headache and/or nausea). The mean basal pressure, amplitude, and frequency of SOM did not change significantly in the 25µg/hr TFP group (n=4 patients). Parameters of SO function also did not significantly change in the 12.5µg/hr TFP group (n=11 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TFPs below a dose of 25µg/hr may not affect the motility of the SO. Administration of TFPs at lower dosages seems to be a safe analgesic treatment for the pain control of patients with pancreatitis without affecting the function of the SO.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University School of Medicine, Bucheon and Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Jong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hyun Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyoung Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyo Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.forename: Hyung Ki
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Young Koog
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Young Deok
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Joon Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Moon Sung
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee