title: Remifentanil use in emergency department patients: initial experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines the use of remifentanil, an ultra-short-acting opioid, in emergency department (ED) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chart review of ED patients receiving remifentanil for procedural sedation in an urban general ED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  50 patients over a 28-month period with a mean age of 30.6 years (±2.6) were reviewed. Procedures performed included: abscess drainage (13); fracture care (9); thoracostomy (8); lumbar puncture (7); shoulder reduction (3); cardioversion (3) and others (7). Six (12%) cases received additional rescue medications. All procedures were successfully completed in the ED. No complications were recorded but 21 (42%) were admitted for underlying pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remifentanil is a safe and effective medication for ED use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, 1600 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. sacchetti1011@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jachowski
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heisler
authors.forename: Teena
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cortese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D000077208:Remifentanil; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil