The μ-opioid receptor agonist methadone is frequently used in adult anesthesia and adult pain
therapy. Methadone has an extremely long half-life, which confers therapeutic advantage by
providing more stable plasma concentrations and long-lasting pain relief. Methadone
perioperative pharmacokinetics and effectiveness in perioperative pain relief in inpatients
is well characterized. There is, however, no information on methadone use in an ambulatory
surgery setting and outpatient procedures. This pilot investigation will determine
effectiveness of intraoperative methadone in reducing postoperative opioid consumption and
providing improved pain relief in patients undergoing moderately painful, ambulatory surgical
procedures.