The Association of Prescriber Awareness of Opioid Consumption Trends with Postoperative Opioid Prescription Volume in Hip Arthroscopy: Prescriber Awareness of Opioid Consumption

Objective To investigate the postoperative analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) in patients undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery. Methods Patients who were scheduled to undergo elective arthroscopic hip surgery were randomly assigned to the QLB (Q) or control (C) group (n = 40 each). After general anesthesia induction, unilateral QLB was performed under ultrasound guidance in the Q group. The amount of opioid use via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and the resting and movement pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores when the patient left the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after surgery were recorded. Postoperative complications were recorded for both groups. Results At 24 hours post-surgery, opioid consumption amounts via PCA (48.4 [48.1–48.6] mL) in the Q group were significantly lower compared with the C group (52.0 [51.0–53.8] mL). A significant reduction in opioid consumption was observed between the two groups at each time point. Resting and movement VAS scores at each time point were significantly lower in the Q compared with the C group. Conclusions Hip arthroscopy patients who received QLB and general anesthesia in combination had less pain and a lower opioid requirement within 24 hours postoperatively.

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Stated Pain Levels, Opioid Prescription Volume, and Chronic Opioid Use Among United States Army Soldiers

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usy026 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 183 (9-10) ◽

pp. e322-e329

Author(s):

D Alan Nelson ◽

Margrét V Bjarnadóttir ◽

Vickee L Wolcott ◽

Ritu Agarwal

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

United States Army ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Army Soldiers ◽

Chronic Opioid Use ◽

Prescription Volume

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Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use After Arthroscopic Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Surgery: Predictors and Outcomes at Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/23259671211038933 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 232596712110389

Author(s):

Edward C. Beck ◽

Benedict U. Nwachukwu ◽

Justin Drager ◽

Kyleen Jan ◽

Jonathan Rasio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Femoroacetabular Impingement ◽

Hip Arthroscopy ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Impingement Syndrome ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome ◽

Prescription Refill

Background: The association between prolonged postoperative opioid use on outcomes after hip preservation surgery is not known. Purpose: To compare minimum 2-year patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between patients who required ≥1 postoperative opioid refill after undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) versus patients who did not require a refill and to identify preoperative predictors for patients requiring ≥1 postoperative opioid refill. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Data from consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for FAIS between January 2012 and January 2017 were analyzed. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to classify patient and radiographic variables as predictive of requiring ≥1 opioid prescription refill after surgery. Patients completed the following PROs preoperatively and at 2-year follow-up: Hip Outcome Score— Activities of Daily Living subscale (HOS-ADL), HOS–Sports Subscale (HOS-SS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12), and 100-point visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction. Scores were compared between patients needing additional prescription opioids and those who did not. Results: A total of 775 patients, of whom 141 (18.2%) required ≥1 opioid prescription refill, were included in the analysis. Patients requiring opioid refills had significantly lower 2-year postoperative PRO scores compared with patients not requiring refills: HOS-ADL (79.9 ± 20.3 vs 88.7 ± 14.9), HOS-SS (64.6 ± 29.5 vs 78.2 ± 23.7), mHHS (74.2 ± 21.1 vs 83.6 ± 15.9), iHOT-12 (63.6 ± 27.9 vs 74.9 ± 24.8), and VAS satisfaction (73.4 ± 30.3 vs 82.2 ± 24.9), as well as significantly more pain (26.8 ± 23.4 vs 17.9 ± 21.8) ( P ≤ .001 for all). Predictors of requiring a postoperative opioid refill included patients with active preoperative opioid use (odds ratio, 3.12 [95% confidence interval, 1.06-9.21]; P = .039) and larger preoperative alpha angles (odds ratio, 1.04 [95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.07]; P = .03). Conclusion: Patients requiring ≥1 opioid prescription refill after hip arthroscopy for FAIS had lower preoperative and 2-year PRO scores when compared with patients not requiring refills. Additionally, active opioid use at the time of surgery was found to be predictive of requiring additional opioids for pain management.

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815 Outpatient Opioid Use in Burn Injuries Following Hospital Discharge: A Single Institution Evaluation

Journal of Burn Care & Research ◽

10.1093/jbcr/iraa024.392 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S246-S247

Author(s):

Brielle Weinstein ◽

Dominique Pagnozzi ◽

Alexa Abitabilo ◽

Lilla Kis ◽

Madeline Carney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Discharge ◽

Surgical Intervention ◽

Burn Injury ◽

Opioid Consumption ◽

Opioid Abuse ◽

Burn Injuries ◽

Prescription Opioid ◽

Prescription Opioids ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Introduction There is a growing concern regarding the unprecedented increase in morbidity and mortality related to the use of opioids. Prescription opioid abuse has been increasing dramatically in recent years. Prescription opioids have been shown to be favorable in perioperative management, however, their impact on chronic usage remains unclear. As an effort to help reduce opioid consumption following hospitalization for burn injuries, we look to evaluate the outpatient opioid consumption following hospital discharge at our institution. Methods After IRB approval, we obtained demographics, medical history, inpatient and outpatient opioid usage, treatment, and length of hospital stay of patients admitted with burn injuries who met study inclusion criteria (age ≥ 12 years and no history of opioid abuse prior to hospitalization) from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2018. Data was analyzed using SAS v9.4. Results Our preliminary data included 210 patients with average age of 58 years, 75% non-Hispanic Caucasians and average total burn surface area of 18%. Medical histories observed included: hypertension (40%), diabetes (15%), hyperlipidemia (11%), depression (7%), and bipolar disorder (3%) among many others. 79% of patients had surgical intervention including excision and grafting, of which 32% had autografting procedures. All patients were treated with opioids during hospitalization, which included: fentanyl, hydromorphone, oxycodone-acetaminophen, morphine and oxycodone. 6% of patients had pain management consultation during hospitalization. 79% of patients were discharged with an opioid prescription, of which 21% had their opioid refilled during follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in discharge opioid prescriptions (79% had surgical intervention versus 76% had no surgical intervention, p=0.69) and outpatient opioid prescription refills (17% had surgical intervention versus 17% had no surgical intervention, p=0.99) between patients who had surgical intervention for burn injuries versus those who did not. Conclusions This evaluation shows that there is no statistical difference in opioid usage between patients who had surgical intervention and those who did not for their burn injury treatments. Therefore, prescription opioids may not be necessary in postoperative care following hospital discharge. Applicability of Research to Practice With further research, we hope to evaluate the need for outpatient opioid prescriptions this treatment modality in effort of decreasing the order and use of opioids following hospital discharge in burn patients.

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Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Pathway to Reduce Inpatient Opioid Consumption after Cesarean Delivery

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1732450 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jared L. Tepper ◽

Olivia M. Harris ◽

Jourdan E. Triebwasser ◽

Stephanie H. Ewing ◽

Aasta D. Mehta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Cesarean Delivery ◽

Enhanced Recovery ◽

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ◽

Opioid Consumption ◽

Quality Improvement Initiative ◽

Adjusted Relative Risk ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

The Impact

Objective Opioid prescription after cesarean delivery is excessive and can lead to chronic opioid use disorder. We assessed the impact of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway on inpatient opioid consumption after cesarean delivery. Study Design An ERAS pathway was implemented as a quality improvement initiative in December 2019. Preintervention (PRE) data were collected from March to May 2019 to assess baseline opioid consumption. Postintervention (POST) data were collected from January to March 2020. The primary outcome was inpatient postoperative opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Secondary outcomes included the consumption of any opioids, postpartum length of stay, and opioid prescription at discharge. Results A total of 92 women were in the PRE group and 91 were in the POST group. Inpatient opioid consumption decreased by 87.3% from PRE to POST, from 124.7 (interquartile range [IQR]: 10–181.6) MME to 15.8 (IQR: 0–75) MME (p < 0.001). There was no difference in median postpartum length of stay (3.4 days PRE vs. 3.3 days POST; p = 0.12). The proportion of women who did not consume any opioids increased by 75.4% from PRE to POST (p = 0.02). The proportion of women discharged with an opioid prescription decreased by 25.6% from PRE to POST (p = 0.007), despite no formal change to prescribing practices. After adjustment for differences in race/ethnicity and gravidity, there was still a reduction in total inpatient opioid consumption (p < 0.001) and an increase in the proportion of women not consuming any opioids (adjusted relative risk (RR): 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–3.87), but the difference in rate of prescription of opioids at discharge was no longer statistically significant (adjusted RR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.48–1.02). Conclusion Adoption of an ERAS pathway for cesarean delivery resulted in a marked reduction in inpatient opioid consumption. Such a pathway can be implemented across institutions and may be a powerful tool in combating the opioid epidemic. Key Points

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Implementation of the Obturator Nerve Block into a Supra-Inguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block Based Analgesia Protocol for Hip Arthroscopy: Retrospective Pre-Post Study

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56040150 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 150

Author(s):

Seounghun Lee ◽

Jung-Mo Hwang ◽

Sangmin Lee ◽

Hongsik Eom ◽

Chahyun Oh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nerve Block ◽

Hip Arthroscopy ◽

Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting ◽

Obturator Nerve ◽

Opioid Consumption ◽

Analgesic Effects ◽

Obturator Nerve Block ◽

Analgesic Regimen ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block

Background and Objectives: The effect of supra-inguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (SI-FICB) in hip arthroscopy is not apparent. It is also controversial whether SI-FICB can block the obturator nerve, which may affect postoperative analgesia after hip arthroscopy. We compared analgesic effects before and after the implementation of obturator nerve block into SI-FICB for hip arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 90 consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroscopy from January 2017 to August 2019. Since August 2018, the analgesic protocol was changed from SI-FICB to SI-FICB with obturator nerve block. According to the analgesic regimen, patients were categorized as group N (no blockade), group F (SI-FICB only), and group FO (SI-FICB with obturator nerve block). Primary outcome was the cumulative opioid consumption at 24 hours after surgery. Additionally, cumulative opioid consumption at 6 and 12 hours after surgery, pain score, additional analgesic requests, intraoperative opioid consumption and hemodynamic stability, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were assessed. Results: Among 87 patients, there were 47 patients in group N, 21 in group F, and 19 in group FO. The cumulative opioid (fentanyl) consumption at 24 hours after surgery was significantly lower in the group FO compared with the group N (N: 678.5 (444.0–890.0) µg; FO: 482.8 (305.8–635.0) µg; p = 0.014), whereas the group F did not show a significant difference (F: 636.0 (426.8–803.0) µg). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that implementing obturator nerve block into SI-FICB can reduce postoperative opioid consumption in hip arthroscopy.

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Prospective Evaluation of Opioid Use After Adoption of a Prescribing Guideline for Outpatient Foot and Ankle Surgery

Foot & Ankle International ◽

10.1177/1071100719863711 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (11) ◽

pp. 1260-1266

Author(s):

Abhiram R. Bhashyam ◽

Cornelia Keyser ◽

Christopher P. Miller ◽

Jennifer Jacobs ◽

Eric Bluman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Opioid Consumption ◽

Prescription Opioid ◽

Foot And Ankle ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Provider Group ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Ankle Surgery ◽

Pill Counts

Background: In 2016, our provider group adopted an initial prescription opioid maximum guideline to reduce overprescription of opioids. The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess opioid consumption patterns following implementation of this guideline in patients undergoing outpatient foot and ankle surgery. Methods: Over a 1-year period, we prospectively analyzed opioid prescription and use patterns of 303 consecutive patients. Opioid consumption was verified by pill counts completed at the 2- and 6-week postoperative visits. The morphine equivalent dose was calculated for each prescription and converted to the equivalent 5-mg oxycodone “pill.” We used the regression coefficients from a regression model of opioid consumption to create a revised guideline for maximum initial opioid prescriptions based on patient age, bony vs nonbony procedure, and anatomic location (forefoot/midfoot/hindfoot/ankle). Results: On average, 37.4 pills were prescribed and 18.9 pills used (47.6% utilization). Only 17.2% of patients used their full prescription quantity. By 2 weeks, 88% of patients no longer used opioids. Only 1.3% of patients used prescription opioids beyond 6 weeks. Independent risk factors for increased opioid consumption were younger age ( P = .003), male sex ( P = .007), recent preoperative opioid use ( P = .019), bony procedures ( P < .001), and ankle/hindfoot procedures ( P = .016 and P < .001). Conclusion: This study showed the amount of opioid consumption for patients undergoing foot and ankle procedures. We present a modified guideline for the maximum initial prescription of opioids following outpatient foot and ankle procedures that can be used as a benchmark for further study in decreasing overprescribing. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective observational cohort study.

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Frailty status as a potential factor in increased postoperative opioid use in older adults

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02101-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth D. Auckley ◽

Nathalie Bentov ◽

Shira Zelber-Sagi ◽

Lily Jeong ◽

May J. Reed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Hospital Discharge ◽

Elective Surgery ◽

Pain Catastrophizing ◽

Well Being ◽

Opioid Consumption ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Post Discharge ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Frailty Status

Abstract Background Prescription opioids are commonly used for postoperative pain relief in older adults, but have the potential for misuse. Both opioid side effects and uncontrolled pain have detrimental impacts. Frailty syndrome (reduced reserve in response to stressors), pain, and chronic opioid consumption are all complex phenomena that impair function, nutrition, psychologic well-being, and increase mortality, but links among these conditions in the acute postoperative setting have not been described. This study seeks to understand the relationship between frailty and patterns of postoperative opioid consumption in older adults. Methods Patients ≥ 65 years undergoing elective surgery with a planned hospital stay of at least one postoperative day were recruited for this cohort study at pre-anesthesia clinic visits. Preoperatively, frailty was assessed by Edmonton Frailty and Clinical Frailty Scales, pain was assessed by Visual Analog and Pain Catastrophizing Scales, and opioid consumption was recorded. On the day of surgery and subsequent hospitalization days, average pain ratings and total opioid consumption were recorded daily. Seven days after hospital discharge, patients were interviewed using uniform questionnaires to measure opioid prescription use and pain rating. Results One hundred seventeen patients (age 73.0 (IQR 67.0, 77.0), 64 % male), were evaluated preoperatively and 90 completed one-week post discharge follow-up. Preoperatively, patients with frailty were more likely than patients without frailty to use opioids (46.2 % vs. 20.9 %, p = 0.01). Doses of opioids prescribed at hospital discharge and the prescribed morphine milligram equivalents (MME) at discharge did not differ between groups. Seven days after discharge, the cumulative MME used were similar between cohorts. However, patients with frailty used a larger fraction of opioids prescribed to them (96.7 % (31.3, 100.0) vs. 25.0 % (0.0, 83.3), p = 0.007) and were more likely (OR 3.7, 95 % CI 1.13–12.13) to use 50 % and greater of opioids prescribed to them. Patients with frailty had higher pain scores before surgery and seven days after discharge compared to patients without frailty. Conclusions Patterns of postoperative opioid use after discharge were different between patients with and without frailty. Patients with frailty tended to use almost all the opioids prescribed while patients without frailty tended to use almost none of the opioids prescribed.

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Opioid overprescription in adolescents and young adults undergoing hip arthroscopy

Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery ◽

10.1093/jhps/hnab048 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mahad M Hassan ◽

Omar F Rahman ◽

Zaamin B Hussain ◽

Stephanie L Burgess ◽

Yi-Meng Yen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Hip Arthroscopy ◽

Pain Control ◽

Median Number ◽

Opioid Consumption ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Prescription Patterns ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Age At Surgery

Abstract Few studies have examined factors related to the increased consumption of opioids after hip arthroscopy in adolescents and young adults. This study sought to determine prescription patterns following hip arthroscopy in this population, and to determine clinical or surgical factors associated with increased post-operative opioid use. Daily post-operative opioid intake was obtained from pain-control logbooks of adolescents and young adults who underwent hip arthroscopy between January 2017 and 2020. Study outcomes were defined as the median total number of opioid tablets consumed, total days opioids were consumed, mean daily opioid consumption and the ratio of opioids prescribed post-operatively to consumed. Clinical and surgical factors were analyzed to determine any association with opioid consumption. Fifty-eight (20%) patients returned completed logbooks. Most patients (73%) were prescribed 30 oxycodone tablets. The median number of tablets consumed was 7 (range 0–41) over a median duration of 7 days (range 1–22). The median ratio of tablets consumed to prescribed was 20%. Increasing patient age at surgery was associated with increased total number of tablets consumed (r = 0.28, P = 0.04) and to the ratio of tablets consumed to prescribed (r = 0.30, P = 0.03). Patients who were prescribed more than 30 tablets consumed on average 7.8 more tablets than patients prescribed fewer (P = 0.003). Patients who underwent regional anesthesia consumed tablets for longer compared with those who did not (median, 10 versus 4 days; P = 0.03). After undergoing hip arthroscopy, adolescents and young adult patients are commonly overprescribed opioids, consuming on average only one-fifth of the tablets prescribed.

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Opioid analgesic use after ambulatory surgery: a descriptive prospective cohort study of factors associated with quantities prescribed and consumed

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047928 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. e047928

Author(s):

Christopher W Shanahan ◽

Olivia Reding ◽

Inga Holmdahl ◽

Julia Keosaian ◽

Ziming Xuan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

High Risk ◽

Drug Use ◽

Opioid Analgesic ◽

Safety Net ◽

Opioid Consumption ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Prescribing Practices ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Opioid Prescribing

ObjectivesTo prospectively characterise: (1) postoperative opioid analgesic prescribing practices; (2) experience of patients undergoing elective ambulatory surgeries and (3) impact of patient risk for medication misuse on postoperative pain management.DesignLongitudinal survey of patients 7 days before and 7–14 days after surgery.SettingAcademic urban safety-net hospital.Participants181 participants recruited, 18 surgeons, follow-up data from 149 participants (82% retention); 54% women; mean age: 49 years.InterventionsNone.Primary and secondary outcome measuresTotal morphine equivalent dose (MED) prescribed and consumed, percentage of unused opioids.ResultsSurgeons postoperatively prescribed a mean of 242 total MED per patient, equivalent to 32 oxycodone (5 mg) pills. Participants used a mean of 116 MEDs (48%), equivalent to 18 oxycodone (5 mg) pills (~145 mg of oxycodone remaining per patient). A 10-year increase in patient age was associated with 12 (95% CI (−2.05 to –0.35)) total MED fewer prescribed opioids. Each one-point increase in the preoperative Graded Chronic Pain Scale was associated with an 18 (6.84 to 29.60) total MED increase in opioid consumption, and 5% (−0.09% to –0.005%) fewer unused opioids. Prior opioid prescription was associated with a 55 (5.38 to –104.82) total MED increase in opioid consumption, and 19% (−0.35% to –0.02%) fewer unused opioids. High-risk drug use was associated with 9% (−0.19% to 0.002%) fewer unused opioids. Pain severity in previous 3 months, high-risk alcohol, use and prior opioid prescription were not associated with postoperative prescribing practices.ConclusionsParticipants with a preoperative history of chronic pain, prior opioid prescription, and high-risk drug use were more likely to consume higher amounts of opioid medications postoperatively. Additionally, surgeons did not incorporate key patient-level factors (eg, substance use, preoperative pain) into opioid prescribing practices. Opportunities to improve postoperative opioid prescribing include system changes among surgical specialties, and patient education and monitoring.

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