Journal of Pain Research (Jan 2021)
Low-Dose Methoxyflurane versus Standard of Care Analgesics for Emergency Trauma Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pooled Data
Abstract
Andrea Fabbri,1 Alberto M Borobia,2 Agnes Ricard-Hibon,3 Frank Coffey,4 Aurore Caumont-Prim,5 François Montestruc,5 Amedeo Soldi,6 Susana Traseira Lugilde,7 Sara Dickerson8 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forli, Italy; 2Clinical Pharmacology Department, La Paz University Hospital, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; 3Emergency Department SAMU-SMUR 95, CHG Pontoise-Beaumont/Oise, Pontoise, France; 4DREEAM: Department of Research and Education in Emergency Medicine, Acute Medicine and Major Trauma, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK; 5eXYSTAT, Malakoff, France; 6Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals Srl, Milan, Italy; 7Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals S.L., Madrid, Spain; 8Mundibiopharma Limited, Cambridge, UKCorrespondence: Sara DickersonMundibiopharma Limited, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 0AB, UKTel +44 1223 397684Email [email protected]: Undertreatment of trauma-related pain is common in the pre-hospital and hospital settings owing to barriers to the use of traditional standard of care analgesics. Low-dose methoxyflurane is an inhaled non-opioid analgesic with a rapid onset of pain relief that is approved for emergency relief of moderate-to-severe trauma-related pain in adults. This analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose methoxyflurane with standard of care analgesics in adults with trauma-related pain.Methods: A meta-analysis was performed on pooled data from randomized controlled trials identified via a systematic review. The primary endpoint was the pain intensity difference between baseline and various time intervals (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes) after initiation of treatment.Results: The pain intensity difference was statistically superior with low-dose methoxyflurane compared with standard of care analgesics (overall estimated treatment effect=11.88, 95% CI=9.75– 14.00; P< 0.0001). The superiority of low-dose methoxyflurane was demonstrated at 5 minutes after treatment initiation and was maintained across all timepoints. Significantly more patients treated with methoxyflurane achieved response criteria of pain intensity ≤ 30 mm on a visual analog scale, and relative reductions in pain intensity of ≥ 30% and ≥ 50%, compared with patients who received standard of care analgesics. The median time to pain relief was shorter with methoxyflurane than with standard of care analgesics. The findings were consistent in a subgroup of elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years).Conclusion: Methoxyflurane can be considered as an alternative to standard of care analgesics in pre-hospital and hospital settings for treatment of adult patients with acute trauma-related pain.Keywords: acute pain, inhaled analgesic, emergency service, wounds and injury, pain management, analgesia
