RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Brief History of Opioids in Perioperative and Periprocedural Medicine to Inform the Future
JF Ochsner Journal
JO Ochsner J
FD O. P. Jindal Global University
SP 43
OP 49
DO 10.31486/toj.22.0065
VO 23
IS 1
A1 Philip G. Boysen
A1 Jenilkumar H. Patel
A1 Angelle N. King
YR 2023
UL http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/23/1/43.abstract
AB Background: Opioids and derivatives of opium had been used as analgesics for thousands of years before the introduction of inhalational anesthetic agents. Once these early volatile agents were in widespread use, opioids were used as part of anesthetic care for premedication, as intraoperative adjuncts to general anesthesia, and for the management of postoperative pain. Evidence of growing dependence on opioids in the perioperative and periprocedural patient is supported by the ongoing research to develop synthetic opioids and to customize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to achieve specific therapeutic goals.Methods: We explore the history of opioid use in perioperative care as a means of future management in light of new persistent opioid abuse.Results: As the opium chemical structure has been modified, newer nonopioid analgesics have been approved and brought into clinical practice. Opioid-sparing and opioid-free anesthetic techniques are not only a possibility, but a reality.Conclusion: Continuing research in neurobiology and addiction genetics will ultimately lead to a pharmacogenetic approach to patients at risk for new persistent opioid abuse.