Nebulized fentanyl for palliation of dyspnea in a cystic fibrosis patient

Dyspnea, the subjective symptom feeling of breathlessness, is a common symptom in terminally ill patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The palliation of the dyspnea is a reasonable goal to improve patient comfort as the progression of the disease worsens. We report the successful use of inhaled fentanyl for 3 days in a 17-year-old female with terminal CF lung disease, as measured by improved oxygenation and a reduction in the modified Borg score, and the subjective feeling of less air hunger reported by parents and patient.