OPIOID ANESTHESIA

Course overview

OPIOIDS HAVE HAD A WIDE RANGE OF USES IN MEDICINE THROUGHOUT HISTORY. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FALLEN UNDER SCRUTINY IN RECENT HISTORY DUE TO THE OPIOID CRISIS/EPIDEMIC CURRENTLY PLAGUING THE MEDICINAL WORLD. OPIOIDS STILL PROVE TO BE A CRUCIAL TOOL IN MANY FIELDS AND ASPECTS OF MEDICINE BUT ARE ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL IN THE TREATMENT OF PAIN AND ANESTHESIA ADJUNCTS OR PRIMARY ANESTHETIC AGENTS DURING SURGERY AND POST-OPERATIVELY. COMMON ANESTHETIC SPECIFIC USES FOR OPIOIDS THAT HAVE BEEN FDA APPROVED INCLUDE USE DURING ALMOST EVERY PHASE OF SURGERY, INCLUDING USE DURING PRE-INDUCTION FOR CHRONIC PAIN CONDITIONS, INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA, MAINTENANCE, AS WELL AS TO REDUCE IMMEDIATE POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AND DECREASE AGITATION. LONG-TERM, POSTOPERATIVE PAIN CONTROL UTILIZING OPIOIDS IS ALSO AN FDA-APPROVED USE. THIS ACTIVITY COVERS OPIOID ANESTHESIA, INCLUDING MECHANISM OF ACTION, PHARMACOLOGY, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILES, ELIGIBLE PATIENT POPULATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, MONITORING, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM'S ROLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OPIOID ANESTHESIA IN LIGHT OF THE OPIOID CRISIS.