Safety and effectiveness of opiate antagonist detoxification under general anesthesia

Juozas Ivaškevičius, Tomas Jovaiša, Giedrius Laurinėnas, Saulius Vosylius, Jūratė Šipylaitė, Robertas Badaras

Clinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Key words: opiate dependency, opiate antagonists, general anesthesia.

Summary. Objective. To evaluate safety and effectiveness of opiate antagonist detoxification under general anesthesia according to available prospective and retrospective data.

Methods. We analyzed all detoxification cases that were performed in Vilnius University Emergency Hospital in the period of 2002–2005. Data of 65 patients from prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and 21 retrospective cases were included in the study.

Results. Full opiate receptor blockade was achieved in 85 cases (98.84%). No complications related to detoxification procedure or general anesthesia were recorded. Differences in procedure protocols and possible implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Conclusions. The protocol of the prospective study may be recommended as a safe and effective detoxification method.

Correspondence to T. Jovaiša, Clinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Vilnius University, Šiltnamių 29, 04130 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: tjovaisa@yahoo.co.uk

Received 7 October 2005, accepted 8 December 2005