Iatrogenic opioid withdrawal syndromes in adults in intensive care units: a narrative review.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

In hospitalized patients, opiates are essential analgesics and sedatives used in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, the iatrogenic opioid withdrawal syndrome (IOWS) in ICU patients has been poorly characterized, and there are no well accepted, standardized diagnostic tools for hospitalized adults. This review analyzed recent clinical studies to determine the frequency, characteristics, and treatment of IOWS in critically ill adults.

Methods

The initial literature search used the PubMed MeSH terms "Analgesics", "Opioids", "Iatrogenic Disease", and "Neurobiology". The main focus was on clinical studies describing IOWS in adults receiving intravenous opioids in ICUs.

Key content and findings

Review of 8 studies indicated that IOWS occur

SUBMITTER: Lamey PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9264079 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature