The systematic use of opioids has made us lose sight of their significant adverse effects, including respiratory distress, hyperalgesia, as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting. Sub-Saharan African countries are currently facing the issue of post-interventional surveillance, with post-operative respiratory problems being rather common. Similarly, these countries experience difficulties in managing pain, nausea, and vomiting. At times, opioid ruptures may occur, which may lead to postponing surgical procedures, in a context where access to surgery is already a obstacle. The opioid-free anesthesia could be an interesting alternative for these countries, especially when using accessible drugs with simple protocols. Therefore, anesthesiologists from these countries should focus their interest on such anesthesia techniques, in the aim to better define their place in their daily practice and share their potential benefits in a limited-resource setting.
Key Words
Opioid-free anesthesia, hyperalgesia, respiratory distress, resource-limited setting