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Tramadol Use in Perioperative Care and Current Controversies

  • Acute Pain Medicine (R Urman, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aim of this review is to discuss the use of tramadol in the perioperative period. There is no doubt that tramadol has revolutionized pain treatment, making it important to understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in order to provide patients with the safest and most effective analgesia.

Recent Findings

Tramadol is a centrally acting synthetic analgesic with a multimode of action used to help treat moderate to severe pain. Pharmacologically, the unique opioid acts as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, while its metabolite, O-desmethyltramadol, acts on the μ-opioid receptor. The analgesic strength of tramadol is about one-tenth that of morphine, making it a relatively safe analgesic. Potential side effects of tramadol include nausea, vomiting, constipation, pruritus, and respiratory depression; however, the severity of these symptoms is minimal compared to traditional opioids.

Summary

Although some of the perioperative uses of tramadol may be rare, it is a pain management option to consider when alternatives have proved ineffective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Blessing Ogbemudia, Ge Qu, Chris Henson, Lida Esfandiary, Rene Przkora & Sandra Victor

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  1. Blessing Ogbemudia
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  2. Ge Qu
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Correspondence to Sandra Victor.

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Ogbemudia, B., Qu, G., Henson, C. et al. Tramadol Use in Perioperative Care and Current Controversies. Curr Pain Headache Rep 26, 241–246 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-022-01021-1

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