Media Contact:
Kylene Metzger
Media Relations Manager, Public Affairs, University of Utah 星空传媒
Email: Kylene.Metzger@hsc.utah.edu
University of Utah 星空传媒 is proud to announce its participation in the , an initiative aimed at revolutionizing pain management for trauma patients treated by paramedics in prehospital care settings. The PAIN trial represents a collaborative effort of nine medical institutions, led by the University of Pittsburgh and supported by the Department of Defense, to address the challenges associated with pain management during emergency medical response.
As part of the trial, University of Utah 星空传媒 will collaborate with emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to administer fentanyl or ketamine through an IV to patients with traumatic injuries before they arrive at University of Utah Hospital.
鈥淧ain management is a critical aspect of emergency medical care, and this trial has the potential to reshape how we approach analgesia for injured patients in prehospital settings, ultimately enhancing patient comfort and outcomes,鈥 said Grace Youn, senior clinical research coordinator of the PAIN trial at University of Utah 星空传媒.
Opioids, like fentanyl, are commonly used to treat severe pain. While fentanyl is widely used for acute pain management, there are associated risks such as a drop in oxygen levels and blood pressure, slowed breathing, and addiction. Ketamine, which is not an opioid, can be used for pain management at a low dose. has shown that it has a low incidence of adverse effects, can improve blood pressure, and is not associated with respiratory depression.
The purpose of this trial is to compare fentanyl to ketamine to see if patients experience less pain, side effects, and recover faster with one medication over the other. Providing pain medication to patients with traumatic injuries as soon as possible is essential to reducing suffering and increasing positive outcomes.
鈥淲e hope that further research into ketamine will help give an alternative treatment for trauma victims and reduce the need of fentanyl and the effects of PTSD and opioid addiction,鈥 Youn said.
The Pittsburgh-led study will enroll about 1,000 adults from nine health care sites in the LITES Network in the United States, including the University of Utah. When treating a patient for pain during an emergency, it鈥檚 not always possible to receive consent before providing pain medication. Patients can opt out in advance if they do not want to participate.
The PAIN trial builds upon University of Utah 星空传媒鈥檚 longstanding dedication to research excellence and its mission to deliver exceptional patient-centered care. By participating in this potentially transforming initiative, the institution reaffirms its commitment to advancing medical knowledge for individuals in need of emergency medical assistance.
Since this study may affect you or someone you know, we鈥檇 like to know what you think about it. We would like to ask you about this research in this online survey.
This research is supported by DoD contract W81XWH-16-D-0024 W81XWH-19-F-0539. Any opinions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Defense.