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  • Sufentanil Sublingual Tablet System for the Management of Postoperative Pain Following Open Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

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Sufentanil Sublingual Tablet System for the Management of Postoperative Pain Following Open Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study
  1. Forrest G. Ringold, MD*,
  2. Harold S. Minkowitz, MD†,
  3. Tong Joo Gan, MD‡,
  4. Keith A. Aqua, MD§,
  5. Yu-kun Chiang, PhD∥,
  6. Mark A. Evashenk, BS** and
  7. Pamela P. Palmer, MD, PhD**
  1. *Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Mobile, AL
  2. †Memorial Hermann–Memorial City Medical Center, Houston, TX
  3. ‡Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
  4. §Visions Clinical Research, Boyton Beach, FL
  5. ║Essence Sciences, San Jose, CA
  6. **AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Redwood City, CA
  1. Address correspondence to: Pamela P. Palmer, MD, PhD, AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Clinical, 351 Galveston Dr, Redwood City, CA 94063 (e-mail: ppalmer{at}acelrx.com).

Abstract

Background and Objectives This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of a sufentanil sublingual tablet system (SSTS) for the management of postoperative pain following open abdominal surgery.

Methods At 13 hospital sites in the United States, patients following surgery with pain intensity of greater than 4 on an 11-point numerical rating scale were randomized to receive SSTS dispensing a 15-μg sufentanil tablet sublingually with a 20-minute lockout or an identical system dispensing a placebo tablet sublingually. Pain intensity scores were recorded at baseline and for up to 72 hours after starting study drug. The primary end point was time-weighted summed pain intensity difference (SPID) over 48 hours. Secondary end points included SPID and total pain relief (TOTPAR) for up to 72 hours and patient and health care provider global assessments of the method of pain control.

Results Summed pain intensity difference over 48 hours was significantly higher in the SSTS group than in the placebo group (least squares mean [SEM], 105.60 [10.14] vs 55.58 [13.11]; P = 0.001). Mean SPID and TOTPAR scores were significantly higher in the SSTS group at all time points from 1 hour (SPID) or 2 hours (TOTPAR) until 72 hours (P < 0.05). In the SSTS group, patient global assessment and health care provider global assessment ratings of good or excellent were greater than placebo at all time points (P < 0.01). Safety parameters, including adverse events and vital signs, were similar for SSTS and placebo.

Conclusions These results suggest that SSTS is effective and safe for the management of postoperative pain in patients following open abdominal surgery.

https://doi.org/10.1097/AAP.0000000000000152

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    Footnotes

    • Funding was received from AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Redwood City, CA.

      These data were previously presented in part as a poster at 2013 spring and fall meetings of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the 2013 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting, and the 2013 ASA Postgraduate Assembly Annual Meeting

      H.S.M. received honoraria and research funding; F.G.R., T.J.G., and K.A.A. have received research funding; Y.C. is a paid consultant and M.A.E. and P.P.P. are employees of AcelRx.

      This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License, where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially.