What do systematic reviews say?

Opioids vs other analgesics and sedatives

It is very uncertain whether opioids changes neonatal mortality compared with other analgesics and sedatives (very low certainty).

• Opioids for newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.31 [0.01, 7.16]
  1 study · 46 participants
  Very low

Opioids vs placebo or no treatment

Opioids showed no clear difference in neonatal mortality compared with placebo or no treatment (moderate certainty).

• Opioids for newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.12 [0.8, 1.55]
  5 studies · 1189 participants
  Moderate

Morphine vs diamorphine

It is very uncertain whether morphine changes neonatal mortality compared with diamorphine (very low certainty).

• Opioids for newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.17 [0.43, 3.19]
  1 study · 88 participants
  Very low

Fentanyl vs sufentanil

• Opioids for newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Very low

Fentanyl vs remifentanil

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Opioids for newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Morphine vs fentanyl

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Opioids for newborn infants receiving mechanical ventilation 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found