In acute pain scenarios, most opioid-related adverse events are transient and tend to resolve
with ongoing treatment. The common adverse events are nausea, vomiting, sedation,
pruritus, and constipation. Patients recovery from abdominal and gynecological surgery are
generally at risk for opioid-induced bowel dysfunction and ileus with recommendation that
such therapy may be supplemented with stool softeners, bulk laxatives, and occasional
enemas27.
When using opioids for acute pain management it is recommended to have safety rules that
must be applied mainly in high risk patients. Neonates, infants, and children are at risk of
adverse effects of opioids, owing to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes.
Routine use of pulse oximetry is recommended in all children receiving opioids28.
Elderly patients are particularly at risk, as a number of other susceptibility factors
can co-exist. Renal insufficiency can result in clinically significant accumulation of