Is Penthrox a Wilderness Medicine Wonder-drug?

Managing the pain of acute trauma in wilderness settings has historically been a tricky area. Many expeditions don't carry strong opioids due to difficulties with controlled drugs and border crossings. Very often the strongest analgesia available is co-codamol (30/500) and maybe some IV paracetamol. However, when you need something fast acting and powerful to reduce or immobilise a fracture and package a patient these options just won't cut the mustard. Enter 'the green whistle': patient controlled analgesia in the form of the volatile anaesthetic methoxyflurane that is poured into a wick in the centre of the device and can be inhaled by the patient. Watch Dr Will Duffin take you through the benefits of Penthrox in a wilderness setting and then take a look at his opinion piece here: