title: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of sublingual sufentanil in the treatment of post-operative pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia using opioids is frequently used to provide perioperative analgesia. However, there are a number of drawbacks for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia. The sufentanil sublingual tablet system is a major evolution in technology and drug development for postoperative pain management.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the use of sublingual sufentanil in postoperative pain management, with a focus on chemistry, pharmacokinetics and clinical use in different surgical patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sufentanil sublingual tablet system can decrease intravenous patient-controlled analgesia-related safety issues. Current clinical studies have demonstrated this novel system to be safe and effective in postoperative pain management.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Outcomes Research , Cleveland Clinic , Cleveland , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Rovnat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Babazade
authors.affiliation: a Department of Outcomes Research , Cleveland Clinic , Cleveland , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Alparslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turan
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000379:methods; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D017409:Sufentanil
keywords: Patient-controlled analgesia; postoperative pain; sublingual sufentanil treatment system; sufentanil; sufentanil metabolism