Researchers at University of Utah Health will participate in a trial to see whether fentanyl or ketamine, administered by emergency medical service providers on the scene, is more successful in relieving pain in trauma patients before arriving at the hospital.

The Prehospital Analgesia Intervention Trial, or PAIN, includes a collaborative effort of nine medical organizations led by the University of Pittsburgh. Supported by the Department of Defense, the trial will address the challenging aspects related to pain management during an emergency medical response.

EMS and U of U Health providers will administer fentanyl or ketamine through an IV to trauma victims before they arrive at University of Utah Hospital.

“Pain management is a critical aspect of emergency medical care, and this trial has the potential to reshape how we approach analgesia for injured patients in prehospital settings, ultimately enhancing patient comfort and outcomes,” said Grace Youn, senior clinical research coordinator for the trial at U of U Health.

According to a U of U Health news release, fentanyl and similar opioids are typically used to treat severe pain. There are risks involved, however, such as a drop in oxygen levels and blood pressure as well as slowed breathing and addiction.

Ketamine, which is a dissociative anesthetic that has some hallucinogenic effects, has been used to treat anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, addiction, post traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. Because it’s not an opioid, researchers will compare which drug causes the best reduction in pain and side effects and whether they will recover more quickly with one drug or the other. Providing pain medication to trauma patients as soon as possible is vital to reduce suffering and increase positive outcomes.

The study will enroll a total of around 1,000 adults from the nine health care sites. Patients are allowed to opt out in advance if they wish not to participate.

“We hope that further research into ketamine will help give an alternative treatment for trauma victims and reduce the need of fentanyl and the effects of PTSD and opioid addiction,” Youn said.

Because emergency studies must follow certain rules, researchers are asking the public to fill out a survey at https://healthcare.utah.edu/pain-study/questionnaire and add any additional comments about the study.