RESUMEN
The (intravenous) administration of opioids is frequently associated with the induction of cough. This phenomenon is usually neither harmful for the patient nor bothersome. However, in some situations a severe cough may interfere with imaging, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures and thus, anesthesiologists may want to know effective preventive measures. The existing literature is extremely diverse and the results of clinical trials are sometimes conflicting. Based on experimental investigations in accordance with clinical findings this systematic review of the existing evidence helps to guide the management strategy if opioid induced cough should be avoided. Promising strategies - among others - in order to achieve this aim consist for instance of decreasing the injection speed in conjunction with pre-administration of lidocaine or clonidine.