Intravenous methadone for pain management in cardiac surgery: a randomised controlled trial with plasma concentration analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Postoperative pain after cardiac surgery remains significant despite the administration of opioids. Methadone may improve pain control and decrease the need for postoperative opioids. Randomised controlled trials, however, are limited and the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on methadone pharmacokinetics are unclear. The aims of this study were to compare methadone and morphine in cardiac surgery, measuring methadone concentrations and correlating them with pain control.

Methods

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery that required cardiopulmonary bypass were allocated randomly to receive either 0.2 mg.kg^-1 methadone or 0.2 mg.kg^-1 morphine (based on actual body weight, maximum 20 mg for both drugs). Postoperative pain was assessed at 15 min a

SUBMITTER: Wong HMK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12747610 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature