Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Intraoperative Methadone Versus Other Opioids: A Retrospective Review of Postoperative Outcomes in Pediatric Surgeries
Authors' conclusion
In this large, single-center retrospective study, intraoperative methadone administered to pediatric patients was found to be associated with reduced postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, and emergence delirium.
Study context
- Population
- Pediatric patients (≤18 years) undergoing spinal fusion for scoliosis, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, bilateral mastectomy with nipple reconstruction, knee surgeries, Nuss repair for pectus excavatum or cleft palate repair, January 1, 2018 to February 29, 2024
- Participants
- 1,794 patients
- Exposure
- Intraoperative methadone vs other opioids
- Methadonen = 528
- Outcome
- Maximum PACU pain score
Methodological detailssingle-center, regression-adjusted, predefined subgroup analyses
- Single-center
- Regression-adjusted
- Predefined subgroup analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Methadone
3.9
95% CI 3.6–4.2
Other opioids
4.5
95% CI 4.3–4.6
P = 0.007
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
PACU opioid consumption
P < 0.001
Emergence delirium
P < 0.001
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS)
- No statistically significant difference in PONV and PACU LOS
Safety
Naloxone administration
- No statistically significant difference
Original publication
Intraoperative Methadone Versus Other Opioids: A Retrospective Review of Postoperative Outcomes in Pediatric Surgeries. Anesth Analg. Published 31 July 2025. doi:10.
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