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Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
Clinical case of rapid opiate detoxification under anesthesia.
Hospital Universitario “General Calixto García” La Habana, Cuba.
Feminine patient of 42 years old, infirmary that has been addicted for 2 years to an
opiate, tramadol, that consumes oral way a maximum of 6 daily grams.
Discusses opiate detoxification with general anesthesia.
Key words
Rapid opiate detoxification. Opiate dependence. Naltrexone. Dexmedetomidine.
Introduction
Traditionally the detoxification of the dependent patients to opiate has been made by
means of the drug substitution by an opiate of long half life. With the use of falling dose
of methadone in a near period to 21 days1, or of other agonists opiate2, and the
progressive reduction of the dose. It has also been used clonidine or dexmedetomidine
together with antagonistic of opiate (program free of drugs), as Naltrexone, that which
has allowed to go reducing the duration of progressively detoxification, being
denominated in occasions to these techniques as rapid detoxifications3. From final of
the years eighty, were expanding the rapid detoxifications, which consist on a variation
of the previous ones: the detoxification takes place when precipitating the withdrawal
syndrome when administering an antagonistic opiate under anesthesia4 5
The detoxification process for which a dependent individual abandons the
consumption, seeks to eliminate the sharp physiologic dependence and to diminish the
severe reactions that appears in the withdrawal syndrome, besides contributing to
The ultrarapids detoxification should satisfy three conditions:
* In this process the detoxification is taken place in less than 24 hours (total duration of
the process from the beginning until the medical discharge).
Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
* It is administered at least a complete dose the antagonist's (Naltrexone 50 mg or
nalmefene; in occasions it is also used Naloxone).
* A wide variety of drugs is used to control the withdrawal syndrome.
It is necessary to keep in mind what characterizes ultrarapid detoxifications:
b) A good clinical control of withdrawal syndrome, as well as the perception for the
c) Physiopathology treatment , especially starting from the works of Gold MS. that it
used clonidine on the hypothesis that many signs and symptoms of the withdrawal
syndrome are mediated by the locus coeruleus with an important quantity of
adrenergics receptors alpha 2 (hiperactivity of the locus coeruleus).
The detoxification and later maintenance with antagonistic opiate constitute an
alternative in the deshabituation programs. The Naltrexone causes a complete
blockade of the receiving opiate during a long period of time due to its long half life.
Their objective is to block the effects of the opiate in its receivers, facilitating the
extinction of the blunting the euphoric effects and cravings for opiates 7.
The advantages of short detoxifications are those that allow to shorten time of
detoxification without increasing the intensity of the withdrawal syndrome, they present
bigger percentages of success in detoxification and allow to begin a maintenance with
Naltrexone in shorten time with a continuity between the detoxification and these
Thats why is preferable the detoxifications with agonistics opiate (methadone) that
specify more time, they don't allow the early use of antagonistic and show very few
results9. The agonistics alpha-2-adrenergics (clonidine or dexmdetomidine) have a
fundamental paper in the detoxification to reduce the hiperactivity noradrenergic that
appears in the syndrome of a withdrawal syndrome10,11, and they are used in
Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
The Naloxone and Naltrexone or Nalmefene have been used in detoxification treatment
what is denominated induced or precipitate withdrawal syndrome. Already in 197314 it
was observed that the intravenous administration of Naloxone, although it precipitates
the withdrawal syndrome, it is able to reduce their duration. Starting from 1982 begins
the combined use of Clonidine and Naltrexone in hospital. It means as a rapid and sure
method of methadone detoxification and opiate like the heroin 15, 16 The later studies try
to shorten the period of detoxification carrying out it in 1 or 2 days.
The Naltrexone possesses an antagonistic activity practically pure over the opiate
Their clinical utility comes given basically because:
– It facilitates the extinction (extinguishes) the behavior of auto administration opiate.
The opiate doesn't carry out their effect, because receivers are blocked. The
remainders are not able to interact on the receivers, they are blocked.
–It diminishes the desire or drug longing (craving), mainly to the beginning of treatment.
- It diminishes the abstinence conditioned to the stimuli related with the previous
consumption, as well as the slowed of abstinence.
The rules of rapid induction allow to carry out the sharp process of detoxification in
To get the detoxification the key drug it´s Naltrexone (antagonistic opiate of long half
life that is absorbed well by oral way and displaces of the agonistic from the receptors).
The agonistics alpha-2 (clonidine or dexmdetomidine) allow an appropriate control of
adrenergic syndrome and they are used in all techniques, either the clonidine or the
dexmdetomidine. Ondansetron is a serotonin receptor antagonist, is administered to
attenuate nausea and vomiting associated. Ansiolitics are used for control agitation.
Diverse rules exist at the moment. The first rule began taking Naltrexone in the first day
to low dose; carrying out the complete detoxification in 3 days17 In 1994 the first results
were published with different procedures, using midazolam for sedation. Following this
technique was described alone a case of complication with possible lung edema, or
Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
secondary hipoxemia to sedative and laringospasme for oral secretions in slight
Seoane and col. describe detoxification with conscious sedation monitored in intensive
cares in a sample of 240 patients. It is the rule of these authors that has served as
guide for many of professionals that carry out this detoxification type.
The Naltrexone was synthesized in 1965 by Bulmberg and Dayton. From the first
studies carried out in United States, Naltrexone has shown very interesting advantages
for treatment the withdrawal syndrome to opiate.
Parallelly, it has scarce toxicity problems and secondary effects. Naltrexone
hydrochlorate is a derived product of tebaíne, synthesized in 1965 by Blumberg and
From the pharmacological point of view some peculiar of Naltrexone favor their use.
Among the qualities that propitiate their use as antagonistic in maintenance programs it
can stand out that it doesn't even produce tolerance neither dependence in long
treatments; it is absorbed very well by oral way and it reaches maximum levels in one
hour; it extinguishes the dangers of the withdrawal syndrome and it blocks the euphoria
in answer to use opiate and, lastly, it produces scarce secondary effects.
In some pursuit studies carried out in addicts that carry out rapid detoxification they
refer that at the 24 hours they continue deshabituation treatment, 85% and 73% of
those that carry out these rapid rules in front of 55% of those that carry out classic
rules. To the 6 months the retention is similar to those that carry out classic
detoxifications, which oscillates among 35-50%.
Another study carried out on 120 selected patients studies retention in 9 months. The
83 patients that are located, 57% stays abstinent and 43% has relapsed. Those that
have not relapsed have taken Naltrexone 2 months more than those that relapse. The
retention a month was 74% in having relapsed and of 98% in abstinent; two months of
62% and 89%; 3 months of 44% and 64% and 8 months 9% and 28% respectively.
Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
This investigation confirms that described in all the studies of pursuit of any addiction
and with any therapeutic modality, like it is the narrow relationship among retention in
the treatment and later abstinence. This study refers that abandonment at the
beginning of the therapy associates with relapse in the consumption with more
frequency than if it gives way later on.
They are relapse elements: not work expectations, beginning of consumption before 9
years old or after 47, to continue relationships with consumers, labor problems, family
or legal problems, inadequate use of Naltrexone. Other studies find high rates of
patients that complete the treatment once initiate the same one. Others point out that
the later results not depend to detoxification way but of selection of patients and of later
treatment factors including the régime of supervised Naltrexone.
In general it is admitted the failures repeated in classic rules. The adaptation is also
studied from the technique to heroine's detoxification or of methadone or other
Some are unanimously accepted as the exclusion of patients that presents serious
sharp organic pathology (serious cardiopathy, severe EPOC, inadequacy breathing,
serious renal or hepatic) pregnant, nurslings. The chronic viral hepatitis or the infection
for HIV usually are not exclusion trials.
Due to the high prevalence of co-existing disease, a thorough history and physical
examination must be performed. Electrocardiogram (EKG) and chest x-ray are
obtained to assist in cardiopulmonary evaluation. Laboratory tests for
immunodeficiency syndromes, hepatitis A, B, C, and D and syphilis testing may be
useful in this high-risk population; however, the presence of these infections is not
necessarily a contraindication to the procedure. In general, patients with uncontrolled
medical problems (ASA physical status III or more) are not good candidates.
Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication and a negative pregnancy test should be
The hepatitis activates with hepatic enzymes and AIDS with recount white sanguine
cells smaller than 200 it is exclusion for some.
The structured psychiatric pathology is frequently exclusion reason, although not
Clinical case
Patient feminine of 42 years old with antecedents of health that possesses an addiction
to an opiate tramadol which consumes up to 6 daily grams with a 2 year-old time, she
requests medical attendance and it is motivated to be liberated of that illness.
She goes into the University Hospital Calixto García and she is carried out psychiatric
evaluation being discarded structured psychiatric pathology, is carried out a clinical
analysis with Laboratory tests and chest x-ray illnesses are discarded .
She goes into the Unit of rapid Detoxification previous signature of informed consent.
Proceeds to carry out protocol of ultra rapid detoxification.
Vein is channeled, it is monitored parameters hemodynamic as well as expense urinal
and temperature. 3 milligrams of intravenous midazolam are administered.
Continues by intravenous way with 150 milligrams lidocaíne, 200 milligrams propofol
and 10 milligrams midazolam, Patients are paralyzed with succinylcholine and
intubated with stem gold tracheal number 8. Patients are not routinely paralyzed for
the duration of the procedure, due to the need to observe signs of withdrawal.
However, if necessary, a long-acting nondepolarizing muscle relaxant can be used in
conjunction with mechanical ventilation.
She is placed how maintenance of anesthesia intravenous way propofol to 6 ml for
kilograms per hour more 2 milligrams lidocaíne for kilogram per hour and 0.2 milligrams
Probe is placed and 100 milligrams of Naltrexone are administered by probe
nasogastric tube. Then 600 microgramos of Naloxone is administered.
Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
They are presented abundant sialorrea how it leaves of withdrawal Syndrome that talks
to escopolamine 20 milligrams, hipertermia, arterial hypertension that it is solved as the
When concluding detoxification after 12 hours its administered dexmdetomidine 200
microgramos in muscle, region of the deltoides.
The patient recovers very well with excellent functions cognocitive without dysfunctions
of abstinence and she is given the high one with pursuit for consultation maintaining
Naltrexone a pill of 50 milligrams for oral way every day at 4 in the afternoon except
The patient diminished the consumption desire ostensibly and until today in a term of
Discussion
Although the detoxification, in itself, is not a definitive treatment, it is an indispensable
step to begin abstinence. The duration of the process is correlated with more
abandonments, more hospital stays and more relapses.
This detoxification method assures the same one in near 100% of cases, since
administration of Naltrexone in a precocious way and during the low patient's
permanency it anesthetizes it disables the high one voluntary and the detention of the
treatment process. This is to our approach one of the main advances of this practice,
since with other techniques more than 30% of those that began detoxification
On the other hand, there are authors that report detoxification in children with
The smallest duration in the process allows to diminish many of the problems that
some addicts generate in the hospitalization rooms during the stay and to diminish the
The advantages of this detoxification type are to provide an approach to the firmest
abstinence, with shorter time, facilitating the access to therapeutic chain and a bigger
Anestesia Pediatrica e Neonatale, Vol. 9, N. 1, Settembre-Ottobre 2011
number of treatments. It would be useful for many addicts, but maybe more for those
discharge it loads with shortcomings in classic detoxification. However it is not a
treatment free of risk and it is necessary to value the dangers of it21.
Some studies express that the risks come from not knowing the practice, and that the
cost cannot be the only cause of not using it, since the addicts should be treated
humanely. The revision studies reflect to consider that the problems are of security
(when using oral medication without anesthesia) and risk/benefit of the anesthesia. It is
necessary to also value the adverse effects and the patient's comfort, without forgetting
that it is a treatment implored by the patients.
Most of revisions support the security of the technique carried out in the context of
Cares Anesthetics, given their great approval among the addicts. It is considered that
anesthesia offers security and it can be useful in patients that take a lot of time in
We outline the necessity of studies that indicate us the best technique to continue,
without forgetting that it is not a treatment in yes, but rather it is included in a wider
treatment, and it treats a defined pathology as chronicle22.
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