title: Sufentanil versus fentanyl: efficacy and patient satisfaction with intrathecal pain management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared fentanyl vs. sufentanil in intrathecal pain pumps. H1: both reduce patient subjective pain ratings. H2: sufentanil is more effective than fentanyl. H3: overall satisfaction with pain control is greater with sufentanil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an archival study of patients in tertiary pain management (N = 97, mean age = 58.77, standard deviation = 14.88). Pain was measured using the subjective units of discomfort scale. Satisfaction with pain control/relief was measured by asking patients each visit if they are satisfied with pain management and is recorded in a "yes"/ "no" manner. Pain ratings were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance and satisfaction was analyzed with chi square.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sufentanil was found to be marginally more effective, but both medications controlled a significant degree of variance in pain reduction over time. A significantly greater number of patients maintained on sufentanil were satisfied with care than patients on fentanyl.
authors.affiliation: The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA. dr.seemann@gmail.com
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Seemann
authors.forename: K Dean
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Marie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: Christina Kay
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Harden
authors.forename: James Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Leah A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pinkerton
authors.forename: Megan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D017409:Sufentanil; D005283:Fentanyl