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Sublingual sufentanil for incident pain and dementia-related response agitation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

Michael J. Passmore
Michael J. Passmore*
Affiliation:
Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Michael J. Passmore, University of British Columbia, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, c/o Mount St. Joseph Hospital, Ward 1 South 3080 Prince Edward St., Vancouver, B.C., V5T 3N4, Canada. Phone: +1 604-874-1141 ext: 78230; Fax: +1 604-877-8157. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Patients with moderate to severe dementia commonly exhibit agitation and aggression in response to personal care. Incident pain is a common factor underlying response agitation that in turn can obstruct the delivery of essential nursing care. Medications commonly used to manage response agitation have specific risks in patients with dementia. This report details the case of a patient suffering from severe dementia with incident pain and response agitation that remitted with the use of sublingual sufentanil, a rapid-onset and ultra-brief acting opioid analgesic.

Keywords

BPSDpalliative carebehavioraggressionopioidnursingAlzheimer's disease
Type
Case Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 5 , June 2011 , pp. 844 - 846
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011

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