Intranasal fentanyl has been previously studied for acute pain reduction in children and adults. Its use includes managment of pain with long-bone fractures, abscess drainage, cancer breakthough pain, and labor pain. We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the administration of 100 mcg intranasal fentanyl to placebo for the reduction of reported pain associated with first trimester abortion in the office setting.
We recruited 107 patients into the study. Analysis of the data is ongoing. However, preliminary analysis shows that intranasal fentanyl did not reduce reported pain with uterine aspiration, did not reduce post operative pain, and did not increase patient satisfaction with pain control during an abortion.