Conversion from prolonged intravenous fentanyl infusion to enteral methadone in critically ill children

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of rapid and slow conversion groups

	Rapid conversion groupa (n = 21)	Slow conversion groupb (n = 21)	P value
Age, yr (median, IQR)	1 (0.3-3.5)	2 (0.8-4)	0.95
Gender, male (%)	14 (67%)	9 (43%)	0.21
Weight, kg (median, IQR)	10 (5.5-14.3)	9.6 (6.8-15.9)	0.88
PRISM III (mean ± SD)	11.4 ± 9	16.1 ± 9.9	0.13
Admitting diagnosis, n (%)			1
ARDS/acute lung injury	14 (67)	14 (67)
Other (sepsis, seizures)	7 (33)	7 (33)
Pre-existing tracheostomy, n (%)	6 (29)	6 (29)	1
Duration of IV fentanyl infusion prior to initiation of enteral methadone, d (median, IQR)	9 (8-14)	10 (8-21)	0.48
Maximum dose of IV fentanyl infusion, μg/kg per hour (median, IQR)	6 (4-7)	6.75 (4-9.25)	0.41
Cumulative dose of IV fentanyl infusion at time of initiation of enteral methadone, mg/kg (median, IQR)	1.48 (1.11-1.92)	1.64 (1.03-1.98)	0.49
Concomitant sedative and analgesic infusions			0.61
Benzodiazepine, n (%)	18 (86)	20 (95)
Ketamine, n (%)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Dexmedetomidine, n (%)	0 (0)	0 (0)

^aRapid conversion group: Patients who were completely converted from IV fentanyl infusion directly to enteral methadone in 48 h or less;

^bSlow conversion group: Patients who were completely converted from IV fentanyl infusion directly to enteral methadone in more than 48 h. IQR: Inter-quartile range; SD: Standard deviation; PRISMIII: Pediatric risk of mortality; ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; IV: Intravenous.