About this trial
This study investigates how well fentanyl is absorbed through the skin when delivered via a transdermal patch in critically ill surgical ICU patients. It compares hemodynamically stable patients with unstable patients who require vasopressors to maintain adequate blood pressure. Fentanyl blood levels will be measured over time to assess whether absorption is impaired in unstable patients. The goal is to determine whether transdermal fentanyl is a viable option for pain management in resource-limited ICUs or in situations where intravenous fentanyl is unavailable.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults aged 18-70 years.
Male or female patients.
Admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU).
Indications for pain management using fentanyl.
Disqualifiers
No clinical indication for fentanyl analgesia (e.g., pain well controlled with non-opioid medications).
Known allergy or hypersensitivity to fentanyl.
Contraindications to fentanyl (e.g., severe constipation, hepatic failure)
Patients infected with multidrug-resistant organisms require high-level isolation (biosafety level 2 or higher).
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Transdermal fentanyl patch
- Transdermal fentanyl patch