Respiratory Depression after Perioperative Methadone Administration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Pooled resultResult — go to the resultRelative risk 1.22 95% CI 0.76–1.95Authors' conclusion
Perioperative intravenous methadone was not associated with a higher risk of respiratory depression, compared to other opioids.
Study context
- Population
- Adult or pediatric surgical patients
- Participants
- 116,815 participants · 25 studies
- Comparison
- Perioperative IV methadone vs other opioids
- Outcome
- Postoperative respiratory depression (naloxone use, respiratory rate <8 breaths per minute, or SpO2 <90%)
Methodological detailsBayesian meta-analysis, subgroup analyses
- Bayesian meta-analysis
- Subgroup analyses
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Relative risk
1.22
95% CI 0.76–1.95
By group
Methadone vs Controls
RR 1.22 (95% CI 0.76–1.95)
Further pooled results
Bayesian meta-analysis, subgroups (methadone dose, timing of events, surgical population) and retrospective studies
- No greater risk of respiratory depression
Original publication
Respiratory Depression after Perioperative Methadone Administration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Anesth Analg. Published 8 May 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →