Date: Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Join by Zoom: https://ufl.zoom.us/j/96123363118
Join to view Zoom in person: MSB Room M-434, LSM Conference Room
Speaker: Austin Baird, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
Affiliation: Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation Education, University of Washington
Title: Whole Body Physiology Model to Simulate Respiratory Depression of Fentanyl and Associated Naloxone Reversal – A Model Informed Repeat Dosing Analysis
Abstract: We present here a computational model of the whole-body response to hypoxemia induced through opioid overdose. We use a physiology engine to ask the question: what are the nasal naloxone requirements to properly reverse fentanyl overdose? We investigate this question via a dynamic runtime model of the human physiology. We design a reversal scenario that considers the requirements of naloxone for a patient experiencing severe hypoxia, induced from an intravenous fentanyl bolus. We investigate a large range of possible opioid doses and for each of these doses provide goal directed naloxone reversal therapy. We show that for increasing levels of fentanyl administration to the patient, naloxone requirements also increase. The naloxone requirement displays a non-linear response to the initial opioid dose. This nonlinear response is largely logistic with three distinct phases: onset, rapid acceleration, and a plateau period for doses above 1.2mg. By designing the model to include circulation and respiration we investigate physiological markers that may be used in goal directed therapy rescue treatments. We hope that this model is the first step in further testing and requirements refinement regarding naloxone as a reversal agent. We hope that this study is the first of many to consider the needs of a fentanyl opioid overdose. Care is required to possibly change the training of first responders and to address this epidemic.