A Prospective Safety Surveillance Study of IONSYS (Fentanyl HCl)

The safety of fentanyl HCl 40 mcg system has been evaluated in a number of research studies. Although this research included patients with acute moderate to severe pain after particular types of surgery, including abdominal, pelvic, and orthopedic procedures, the safety associated with use under conditions of routine post-operative clinical care may not have been completely characterized by the study database. This study will be a surveillance study on the risks associated with the usage of fentanyl HCl 40 mcg system under such conditions. Approximately 3,000 patients who have scheduled surgery and need treatment of acute moderate to severe post-operative pain and are treated with fentanyl HCl 40 mcg system in the hospital setting will be evaluated. In addition, a group of approximately 1,500 patients treated with opioid intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) will be matched to fentanyl HCl 40 mcg system patients with respect to (1) country (match will first be sought within the same research center, and extended to patients in the same country if no match is found), (2) pre-surgical physical condition and (3) surgery risk (high risk versus low risk). Patients at multiple research centers in multiple countries will be included. Patients with planned surgery and anticipated use of opioid pain management for post-operative care who are candidates for treatment with fentanyl HCl 40 mcg system or IV PCA opioid treatment will have the study explained and may participate after giving informed consent if they meet the study entry criteria. Enrollment in the study begins prior to their surgical procedure. Patients will receive treatment and care according to the standard practices at the study center, including: treatment choice, pain management set-up, and operation. Data collection in this observational (non-interventional) study will begin after informed consent is obtained and admission to the study center for the surgical procedure and will continue until discontinuation of fentanyl HCl 40 mcg system or IV PCA opioid treatment. Any significant changes in medical condition will be followed until they have resolved or have become medically stable. Patients will receive fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system 40 mcg (fentanyl HCl 40 mcg delivered by patient activation over 10 minutes for a maximum of 6 doses/hour for up to 24 hrs or 80 total doses) or Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia (IV PCA) opioid (medication choice, treatment regimen, and operation of the PCA pump to be consistent with standard practice at participating centers). Treatment duration to be determined by the treating physician.