Service Evaluation of Methoxyflurane Versus Standard Care for Overall Management of Patients with Pain Due to Injury

Abstract

Introduction Inhaled methoxyflurane is an analgesic used for the emergency relief of moderate to severe pain in conscious adult patients with trauma and associated pain that is increasingly being used in hospital emergency departments to provide rapid analgesia. It is widely accepted that effective pain relief can facilitate patient care and flow through the emergency department (ED). The main aim of this evaluation was to assess the impact of inhaled methoxyflurane on patient length of stay (LOS) in the ED compared with standard care. Methods Adult patients with moderate to severe trauma pain and Glasgow coma score of 15 were included in the evaluation. Evaluation forms were completed for 79 patients who received methoxyflurane and were matched with 80 patients who received standard care. Results Overall the mean time spent in the ED was reduced by 71 min in those patients who were administered methoxyflurane compared with patients who received standard care. Furthermore, analysis of LOS by injury type demonstrated a reduction in ED LOS by 183 min for patients with shoulder dislocation who were treated with methoxyflurane compared with patients who received standard care. There was no reduction in ED LOS for patients with lower limb, hip or pelvic injuries between the two treatment groups. Conclusion Use of methoxyflurane in adult patients with trauma pain significantly reduced the ED LOS and may potentially improve patient flow through the ED.

Does Inhaled Methoxyflurane Implement Fast and Efficient Pain Management in Trauma Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Another study showed the overall cost of methoxyflurane use is 86 € (considering the staff costs and the cost of device). In general, the use of methoxyflurane will be a potential saving of 96 € for each patient with upper limb/shoulder injuries [54]. However, studies included in this meta-analysis did not present any pharmaco-economic related data.…”

El resurgimiento del metoxiflurano en México

“…Un estudio, que evaluó el uso de metoxiflurano inhalado versus sedación intravenosa para reducción de luxación anterior de hombro, demostró una disminución significativa de 50% para el grupo de metoxiflurano en la duración de la estancia en el Servicio de Urgencias. Otras ventajas encontradas fueron un menor uso de medicamentos intravenosos y la satisfacción final del paciente (12) .…”

Pain and symptom relief using inhaled methoxyflurane for gynecologic brachytherapy applicator removal

“…The use of inhaled methoxyflurane (IMF; Penthrox™, Galen Pharmaceuticals) has been well established in the acute trauma and emergency department (ED) setting [ 5 ]. It reduces the pain scores of trauma patients and decreases the patients’ length of stay in the ED [ 6 ]. In Australasia [ 7 , 8 ], the use of IMF is described in patients with pain associated with planned procedures rather than acute trauma, including change of burns dressings, incision and drainage of abscesses, and colonoscopies.…”