Effectiveness of Sublingual Buprenorphine for Pain Control in the ICU*
Authors' conclusion
Buprenorphine sublingual is as effective as oxycodone oral/enteral with regard to pain control and opioid consumption in the ICU.
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill patients in 2 general medical or surgical ICUs of a quaternary urban hospital, Sydney, Australia, January 2019 to January 2023288 per group after matching
- Participants
- 1,070 patients
- Exposure
- Sublingual buprenorphine vs oral/enteral oxycodone
- Buprenorphinen = 288
- Oxycodonen = 288reference
- Outcome
- Probability of significant pain (≥4 on 0-10 NRS or ≥6 on Behavioral Pain Scale)
Methodological detailsparallel, propensity score matched
- Parallel
- Propensity score matched
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Median difference
0.01
95% CI −0.02 to 0.04
P = 0.50
By group
Buprenorphine
0.16
median
Oxycodone
0.17
median
Buprenorphine vs Oxycodone
median difference 0.01 (95% CI −0.02 to 0.04); P = 0.50
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Median
| Outcome | Buprenorphine | Oxycodone | Median difference (mg) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid consumption (oral MME) | 65 | 70 | −1 (−10 to 10) | P = 0.73 | |
| MME per ICU day | 22 | 22 | 1 (−2 to 5) | P = 0.38 | |
| −15−10−5051015Difference, mg (linear scale) |
Original publication
Effectiveness of Sublingual Buprenorphine for Pain Control in the ICU*. Crit Care Med. Published 29 August 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →