Needle-Free Transdermal System for Pain

A study has found that a needle-free, self-contained fentanyl patient-controlled transdermal system (PCTS) is as effective for postsurgical pain management as a traditional intravenous (IV) pump. The finding was reported in the March 17, 2004, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The multicenter study, conducted at more than 30 sites, showed that a button-activated fentanyl system that delivers pain medication through the skin could eliminate the need for IVs for postsurgical pain relief. This system, known as E-TRANS fentanyl PCTS, also offers the advantage of a needle-free pre-programmed medication system in a small, self-contained unit.

"This is a miracle of miniaturization,” said Eugene Viscusi, M.D., director of the acute pain management service at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadephia, PA, USA), who led the study.

The system, about the size of a credit card, is self-adherent to the skin. It can be used for patients with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain after most surgeries, including joint replacement, prostate surgery, or gynecologic surgeries. The PCTS is placed on an inpatient's upper arm or chest by adhesive on the back of the patch. When a patient pushes the button for pain, PCTS delivers the medication over 10 minutes. A lockout feature prevents a patient from administering more pain medication than the doctor prescribed. Without tubing or other equipment, the patient can move freely about.

The system was developed by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Raritan, NJ, USA) and the Alza Corporation (Mountain View, CA, USA).