Effect Of Adding Intravenous Ketamine To Methadone For Postoperative Pain In Opioid Addicts After Major Surgery: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Clinical Trial Study

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of adding intravenous ketamine to methadone in controlling the pain of opium-addicted patients after major surgery in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Shahid Mohammadi Hospital. Methods: In a rigorously controlled clinical investigation, a randomized, double-blinded study design was employed to evaluate a total of ۸۹ opium-addicted patients were included in the study after major surgery in the Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and pain intensity were measured repeatedly till ۲۴ hours. Results: Eighty-nine patients were included in this study. Intervention and control groups need for morphine was statistically different. Average pain of study groups varied at ۱, ۶, ۱۲, and ۲۴ hours after surgery (P<۰.۰۵), as well as the average RASS (P<۰.۰۵), both RASS and pain indices were lower in intervention group than controls. Conclusion: The findings of the current investigation reveal that adding intravenous ketamine to methadone controls pain and reduces the need for morphine in opium-addicted patients after major surgery in the intensive care unit without serious side effects. Therefore, this combination can be used in this group of patients to reduce pain and reduce recovery time.

Keywords:

Ketamine , Methadone , Pain , Addicted patients , Opium , Intensive Care Unit.