A parallel-group, open-label, single-centre, randomized controlled superiority trial depicted that Sufentanil when administered intranasally yielded better pain management when compared to oral or intravenous opioids in patients with traumatic injuries who received coanalgesia. Stefano Malinverni et al. aimed to evaluate the pain relief provided by intranasal Sufentanil in comparison to oral and intravenous opioids for acute traumatic injuries.

Subjects who arrived at the emergency department with trauma and had a pain score of ≥7 on a visual analogue scale (VAS) were randomly assigned to receive either intranasal Sufentanil or alternative oral/intravenous opioids, in addition to oral/intravenous Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The primary measure of interest was the decrease in VAS score within 15-20 minutes following randomization.

In the intention-to-treat analysis, 170 out of the 205 initially screened patients were incorporated. The group that received intranasal Sufentanil (consisting of 83 subjects) exhibited a notably greater reduction in pain compared to the group receiving oral/intravenous opioids (comprising 87 patients) at the 15-20 minute mark post-randomization. Similarly, the intranasal Sufentanil group demonstrated a greater pain reduction 60 minutes post-randomization (Table 1).

However, it's important to note that the intervention group experienced a higher frequency of side effects (Table 2).

Patients with traumatic injuries receiving coanalgesia experienced superior pain relief with intranasal Sufentanil, suggesting its potential as a viable option for managing severe pain in such patients.