Oral opioids have a place in the treatment of severe pain when gastro-intestinal function is present, e.g. terminal care.
Postoperatively, for example, stasis in the GI tract may lead to the accumulation of opioids in the stomach; when motility is restored, sudden small bowel absorption may precipitate severe respiratory depression.
Hence, oral opioids are only indicated in the late post-operative period when absorption can be predicted.
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