To the Editor: We read with interest the report of 12 hospital presentations related to the use of naltrexone implants.1 The accompanying editorial highlights how the rigorous scrutiny required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this procedure is lacking.2 Regrettably, this study is likely to distort rather than inform the debate.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Caboolture Hospital, Caboolture, QLD.
- 2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA.
Correspondence: mark.little@health.wa.gov.au
- 1. Lintzeris N, Lee S, Scopelliti L, et al. Unplanned admissions to two Sydney public hospitals after naltrexone implants. Med J Aust 2008; 188: 441-444. <MJA full text>
- 2. Wodak AD, Ali R, Henry D, Sansom L. Ensuring the safety of new medications and devices: are naltrexone implants safe [editorial]? Med J Aust 2008; 188: 438-439. <MJA full text>
- 3. Gilbert EH, Lowenstein SR, Koziol-McLain J, et al. Chart reviews in emergency medicine research: where are the methods? Ann Emerg Med 1996; 27: 305-308.
- 4. Armstrong J, Little M, Murray L. Emergency department presentations of naltrexone-accelerated detoxification. Acad Emerg Med 2003; 10: 860-866.
Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.