Feasibility of monomodal analgesia with IV alfentanil during burn dressing changes at bedside (in spontaneously breathing non-intubated patients).
BACKGROUND
The severe pain related to repeated burn dressing changes at bedside is often difficult to manage. However these dressings can be performed at bedside on spontaneously breathing non-intubated patients using powerful intravenous opioids with a quick onset and a short duration of action such as alfentanil. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the protocol which is used in our burn unit for pain control during burn dressing changes.


METHODS
Cohort study began after favorable opinion from local ethic committee has been collected. Patient's informed consent was collected. No fasting was required. Vital signs for patients were continuously monitored (non-invasive blood pressure, ECG monitoring, cutaneous oxygen saturation, respiratory rate) all over the process. Boluses of 500 (±250) mcg IV alfentanil were administered. A continuous infusion was added in case of insufficient analgesia. Adverse reactions were collected and pain intensity was measured throughout the dressing using a ten step verbal rating scale (VRS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain conceivable).


RESULTS
100 dressings (35 patients) were analyzed. Median age was 45 years and median burned area 10%. We observed 3 blood pressure drops, 5 oxygen desaturations (treated with stimulation without the necessity of ventilatory support) and one episode of nausea. Most of the patients (87%) were totally conscious during the dressing and 13% were awakened by verbal stimulation. Median total dose of alfentanil used was 2000μg for a median duration of 35min. Pain scores during the procedure were low or moderate (VRS mean=2.0 and maximal VRS=5). Median satisfaction collected 2h after the dressing was 10 on a ten step scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain control with intravenous alfentanil alone is efficient and appears safe for most burn bedside repeated dressings in hospitalized patients. It achieves satisfactory analgesia during and after the procedure. It is now our standard analgesic method to provide repeated bedside dressings changes for burned patients.
Burn Intensive Care Unit, Saint Joseph Saint Luc Hospital, 20 Quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon, France. Electronic address: mfontaine@ch-stjoseph-stluc-lyon.fr.
Mathieu
M
Fontaine
Burn Intensive Care Unit, Saint Joseph Saint Luc Hospital, 20 Quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon, France.
Jacques
J
Latarjet
Burn Intensive Care Unit, Saint Joseph Saint Luc Hospital, 20 Quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon, France.
Jacqueline
J
Payre
Burn Intensive Care Unit, Saint Joseph Saint Luc Hospital, 20 Quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon, France.
Jean-Charles
JC
Poupelin
Burn Intensive Care Unit, Saint Joseph Saint Luc Hospital, 20 Quai Claude Bernard, 69007 Lyon, France.
François
F
Ravat
D059787:Acute Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015760:Alfentanil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000451:nursing*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D055815:Young Adult
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D015760:Alfentanil
Alfentanil; Analgesia; Burns; Dressing change