An iontophoretic, fentanyl HCl patient-controlled transdermal system for acute postoperative pain management

Patient-controlled modalities using intravenous or epidural routes have dramatically improved postoperative pain management. However, acute postoperative pain continues to be undermanaged. Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), the current standard of care for acute postoperative pain management, requires the patient to be attached to a staff-programmed pump apparatus via an intravenous catheter and tubing, rendering it invasive and mobility-limiting. An innovative, needle-free, iontophoretic, fentanyl HCl patient-controlled transdermal system (PCTS) is being developed for acute postoperative pain management. Fentanyl HCl PCTS is a compact, self-contained system that is easily applied to the upper outer arm or chest. It provides pain relief therapeutically equivalent to that of a standard regimen of morphine intravenous PCA, with pharmacokinetics similar to those of intravenous fentanyl infusion. Fentanyl HCl PCTS may be an effective, non-invasive alternative to currently available PCA modalities.