The Safety of High-Dose Intranasal Fentanyl in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine if the use of intranasal (IN) fentanyl in the pediatric emergency department of 2 to 5 μg/kg at doses greater than 100 μg is associated with adverse events in pediatric patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients receiving IN fentanyl at an urban, tertiary care emergency department in Memphis, TN, from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017. All adverse events documented through the hospital's voluntary safety reporting system involving IN fentanyl were reviewed to determine patient outcomes.

Results: A total of 3205 patients received greater than 100 μg of IN fentanyl during the study period from 2011 to 2017. The average (SD) patient age was 13.7 (2.65) years, ranging from 5 to 18 years. The mean (SD) initial dose was 162 (30) μg ranging from 102 to 265 μg (2 doses were given greater than 200 μg in the study period). Initial average (SD) dose for weight was 2.62 (0.5) μg/kg. A total of 13 adverse events were documented, with only 3 occurring at doses greater than 100 μg. No patients required the reversal agent naloxone or invasive respiratory support.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study using doses greater than 100 μg of IN fentanyl in a pediatric population. Our results indicate that fentanyl can be safely administered at doses of greater than 100 μg without any clinically significant adverse outcomes observed for 7 years of use. It is our hope that this information will increase utilization of IN fentanyl for treatment of acute pain in emergency departments and in the prehospital setting.