Luz D. Severino-Castillo, Unidad de Fisiología Anorrectal, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Juan A. Villanueva-Herrero, Unidad de Fisiología Anorrectal, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Jorge L. De León-Rendón, Servicio de Coloproctología, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Mabel S. Barcelo-Valdez, Unidad de Fisiología Anorrectal del Servicio de Coloproctología, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
María Anota-Rivera, Unidad de Fisiología Anorrectal, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Flor G. Moreno-Flores, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Sindy W. Cruz-Torrico, Unidad de Fisiología Anorrectal, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Billy Jiménez-Bobadilla, Servicio de Coloproctología, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México
Objective: Patients, when being assessed, during the performance of any complementary study, or in cases of minor surgery, require appropriate pain management, as their cooperation is essential for success in resolving their conditions . To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of methoxyflurane in the management of pain in patients who undergo anorectal procedures in the office . Method: A prospective, observational study was conducted at the Anorectal Physiology Unit of the General Hospital of Mexico Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Hospital Ángeles Universidad, and Hospital Ángeles Roma. A total of 34 patients received methoxyflurane via the Penthromax inhaler before undergoing elective or urgent anorectal procedures (whether involving imaging studies or not and minor surgery). The primary endpoint of the study was the change in pain intensity, measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) from the initiation of drug administration to 5, 15, and 25 minutes afterward. Patients received an inhaler containing 3 mL of methoxyflurane. Results: All 34 patients received methoxyflurane. Baseline characteristics were similar among the groups. Methoxyflurane significantly reduced pain severity at all assessment time points, with over 80% of patients experiencing relief. The most substantial treatment effect was observed 5 minutes after initiation. The treatment was well-tolerated, with no reported adverse reactions. Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that methoxyflurane, administered via the Penthromax inhaler, is an effective, safe, and rapid-acting analgesic for anorectal procedures.
Keywords: Anorectal pain. Analgesia. Sedation. Methoxyflurane. Penthromax. Emergency.