Prehospital analgesia in adults using inhaled methoxyflurane

Abstract

The use of methoxyflurane as a prehospital analgesic significantly reduced pain in patients, with no significant side-effects attributed to its use. The majority of patients and paramedics interviewed were satisfied with its effects and indicated a willingness to use it again.

Effectiveness of Prehospital Morphine, Fentanyl, and Methoxyflurane in Pediatric Patients

“…Individually, IN fentanyl resulted in the achievement of effective analgesia in 89.5% of pediatric patients, compared with IV morphine (87.5%) and methoxyflurane (78.3%). There were no clinically (11-14) 13 (12)(13)(14)(15) 13 (11)(12)(13)(14) 13 (11)(12)(13)(14) 13 (11-14) Initial pain score-median (IQR) 8 (7-10) 8 (7-10) 8 (7-10) 8 (7-9) 9 (8-10) * † ‡ Pain score difference-median (IQR) 5 (3-6) 5 (4-7) 5 (3-7) 4 (3-6) * ‡ 6 (4-7) * † ‡ Gender-female, n (%) 21 significant differences in initial pain score between morphine, fentanyl, and methoxyflurane. The initial pain score in patients who received a combination of analgesic agents had a marginally higher initial pain score (Table 2).…”

“…The use of methoxyflurane continued, however, in the prehospital setting, where it has been used widely as an analgesic agent in Australian ambulance jurisdictions for more than three decades. 13 There have been no published reports of renal damage arising from intermittent use at analgesic concentrations (0.2%-0.4%).…”

Pain priorities in pre-hospital care

“…Evidence for its use is sparse with only one cohort study to date reporting benefits in the absence of significant complications 8 and it is not currently used in the UK or US.…”

Methoxyflurane: a review with emphasis on its role in dental practice

“…Although there are no published controlled trials of use of methoxyflurane in sub-anaesthetic doses, available data suggests that it is effective as an analgesic, particularly in the pre-hospital post-trauma setting [15][16][17] with its strength lying in the rapidity of pain relief onset. 18 This facilitates patient comfort prior to treatment in a hospital setting where more potent intravenous medications can be administered by personnel with appropriate training with the availability of monitoring and resuscitation facilities.…”