Abstract
ObjectiveTo review the literature regarding the use of opioids in advanced heart failure. MethodReview of the literature. Sources: PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, UpToDate and complementary manual search. Study period: 01/01/2005 to 01/02/2015. All types of studies were included provided they analyzed the relationship between advanced heart failure and opioid administration. Articles in which opioids were administered nebulised were excluded. The parameters analyzed and compared were: study objective, study type, study sample, inclusion criteria and relationship between opioids and advanced heart failure. ResultsEight studies met the inclusion criteria. All of them were very heterogeneous in their methodology, sample sizes, and results. However, opioids seem to be helpful in treating dyspnoea in advanced heart failure if they are used carefully. ConclusionOpioids are useful in the symptomatic treatment of advanced heart failure but the available evidence is low.
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