Department Faculty Publish Impactful Study on Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression

Faculty from the University of Utah Department of Anesthesiology, Dr. Ken Johnson, Dr. Joseph Orr, Dr. Talmage Egan, and Dr. Lara Brewer, have made significant contributions to the understanding of opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD). Their groundbreaking study, Quantified Ataxic Breathing (AB) Can Detect Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression Earlier in Normal Volunteers Infused with Remifentanil, was recently published in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

The study highlights the use of quantified ataxic breathing (AB) as a novel tool for early detection of OIRD. Through innovative methodologies, the research team demonstrated how AB could be identified earlier in individuals exposed to remifentanil, a commonly used opioid. This advancement holds the potential to enhance patient safety by facilitating earlier interventions in clinical settings.

Marking the significance of this publication, the study was accompanied by an editorial titled, Postoperative Ataxic Breathing: A New Tool for Early Diagnosis of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression?, also published in Anesthesia & Analgesia. The editorial underscores the importance of the team’s findings and their potential to shape the future of perioperative care.

Congratulations to Drs. Johnson, Orr, Egan, and Brewer for their outstanding contributions!