UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Trauma

Title: Fentanyl use is common in violently injured patients

Keywords: substance abuse, trauma, fentanyl, injury (PubMed Search)

Posted: 2/26/2023 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 10/15/2024)
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In a small study at a single level one trauma center, ? of patients screened positive for illicit fentanyl use prior to violent or intentional injury. Those who screened positive were more likely to require ICU admission and had a higher rate of previous trauma center admission. The authors concluded: 



“Exposure to illicit fentanyl was common among victims of violence in this single-center study. These patients are at increased risk of being admitted to intensive care units and repeated trauma center visits, suggesting fentanyl testing may help identify those who could benefit from violence prevention and substance abuse treatment.”

References

Illicit Fentanyl Exposure Among Victims of Violence Treated at a Trauma Center 

ACUTE CARE SURGERY| VOLUME 283, P937-944,


Kyle R. Fischer, MD, MPH

Timothy Traynor, BS

Benoit Stryckman, MA

Joseph Richardson, PhD

Laura Buchanan, MD

Zachary D.W. Dezman, MD, MS