Feedback on the Use of Methoxyflurane in the Emergency Department

Oligoanalgesia in trauma patients is a common situation in emergency department because of the complexity of pain management. One of the best-described solutions to this problem is the use of nurse-initiated protocol upon admission. This type of protocol is to be preferred especially in the case of fast track in the emergency department. Methoxyflurane is volatile halogenated ether used in medicine. Inhalation of this gas produces analgesia superior to placebo without serious adverse effects. Due to its rapidity of action, its ease of use and its analgesic properties, methoxyflurane must be a part of the arsenal of antalgic therapies in the Emergency Department. At Grenoble Alpes Emergency Department, we favor the use of methoxyflurane in a multimodal analgesia protocol of trauma in adult patients. In this indication, methoxyflurane is used to initiate analgesia and bridge until other analgesic therapies are effective.