Implementation of a Standardized Perioperative Pain Management Protocol to Reduce Opioid Prescriptions in Otolaryngologic Surgery

2022 ◽  
pp. 019459982110711
Author(s):  
Michael T. Chang ◽  
M. Lauren Lalakea ◽  
Kimberly Shepard ◽  
Micah Saste ◽  
Amanda Munoz ◽  
...  

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of implementing a standardized multimodal perioperative pain management protocol in reducing opioid prescriptions following otolaryngologic surgery. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting County hospital otolaryngology practice. Methods A perioperative pain management protocol was implemented in adults undergoing otolaryngologic surgery. This protocol included preoperative patient education and a postoperative multimodal pain regimen stratified by pain level: mild, intermediate, and high. Opioid prescriptions were compared between patient cohorts before and after protocol implementation. Patients in the pain protocol were surveyed regarding pain levels and opioid use. Results We analyzed 210 patients (105 preprotocol and 105 postprotocol). Mean ± SD morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prescribed decreased from 132.5 ± 117.8 to 53.6 ± 63.9 ( P < .05) following protocol implementation. Mean MMEs prescribed significantly decreased ( P < .05) for each procedure pain tier: mild (107.4 to 40.5), intermediate (112.8 to 48.1), and high (240.4 to 105.0). Mean MMEs prescribed significantly decreased ( P < .05) for each procedure type: endocrine (105.6 to 44.4), facial plastics (225.0 to 50.0), general (160.9 to 105.7), head and neck oncology (138.6 to 77.1), laryngology (53.8 to 12.5), otology (77.5 to 42.9), rhinology (142.2 to 44.4), and trauma (288.0 to 24.5). Protocol patients reported a mean 1-week postoperative pain score of 3.4, used opioids for a mean 3.1 days, and used only 39% of their prescribed opioids. Conclusion Preoperative counseling and standardization of a multimodal perioperative pain regimen for otolaryngology procedures can effectively lower amount of opioid prescriptions while maintaining low levels of postoperative pain.

Author(s):  
Dalia H. Elmofty

Perioperative pain management continues to be a challenge for physicians. Postoperative pain can compromise patient progress and lead to poor outcomes or chronic pain. Opioid medications, the mainstay of treatment for perioperative pain, can cause opioid-induced hyperalgesia and opioid tolerance. Attempts should be made to modify factors that increase the risk for chronic postsurgical pain. Certain patient factors and anesthetic and surgical techniques have been implicated. Incorporating multimodal methods for perioperative pain management using nonconventional opioids, such as methadone, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, NMDA antagonists, and regional techniques can improve outcomes and prevent opioid-induced hyperalgesia, opioid tolerance, and chronic postsurgical pain in patients on long-term opioid therapy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
A. Bratu ◽  
Z. Panti ◽  
A. Comanelea ◽  
R. Ene ◽  
C. Cîrstoiu

Abstract Introduction. The increasing number of tumor prosthesis in the last decade shows the advance in musculoskeletal oncology. Limb sparing surgery nowadays has to be the focus in surgery, maintaining the patient’s quality of life. Prognosis depends on the histological type of tumor, size, and local extension. Pain is present in almost any cases of bone tumors and can vary in intensity and character. Being the leading symptom is strongly correlated to the quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain in patients with primary bone sarcomas before and after surgery. Material and methods. 11 patients were involved in this study over a period of 4 years (2014-2017) from the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department in the University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest. Tumor resection and reconstruction with modular prosthesis was performed in 4 cases, and tumor resection was necessary in 3 cases and amputation in 4 cases. Pain was evaluated before and after surgery using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Early postoperative pain control was achieved with epidural catheter, followed by opioid therapy, NSAIDs and Paracetamol in the early stages of mobilization. Results. Surface sarcomas and tumors close to the periosteum, or periosteal involvement has shown a localized and increased pain. Multimodal-analgesia was used for pain management. Within the first 48 hours, analgesia was performed with an epidural catheter by continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% and fentanyl 2mcg/ ml at a rate ranging between 3-6 ml/ h, obtaining a VAS score between 0 and 3. Conclusions. Perioperative pain management has to be individualized to the localization and local soft tissue involvement of the tumor. In late stages of sarcomas or local recurrence, conventional analgesics can be inefficient. Early diagnosis and surgical removal of these tumors is the most important objective for a good prognosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-37
Author(s):  
Angelica Bratu ◽  
Adrian Cursaru ◽  
Adina Comanelea ◽  
Bogdan Şerban ◽  
Cătălin Cîrstoiu

Abstract Introduction: A worrying increase in the number of bone tumors that appear at younger ages justifies the efforts aimed at optimizing perioperative management practices in orthopedic tumor surgery. Pain control is critical in the prognosis and postoperative outcome of these procedures. Material and methods: Our study included a group of 11 patients diagnosed with bone malignancies. These patients were hospitalized in the Orthopedic Clinic of the University Emergency Hospital Bucharest. Under our supervision, they underwent surgical treatment of the tumor under combined general anesthesia and epidural anesthesia for the pelvic limb, and general anesthesia only for the upper limb. We performed perioperative pain management with multimodal analgesia (continuous epidural analgesia with ropivacaine 0,2% and fentanyl 2 mcg/ml in association with systemic analgesics). Following this procedure, we measured the intensity of the postoperative pain at intervals of 48 hours and one week after surgery and compared with preoperative pain intensity using the visual analogue pain scale (VAS). Results: Multimodal analgesia (epidural analgesia associated with systemic analgesics – paracetamol, COX2 inhibitor, gabapentinoids) was performed well in the postoperative pain of the tumor prosthesis, with a significant decrease in VAS from a mean value of 7.63 preoperatively to an average of 3 in the first 48 hours postoperatively. After the removal of the epidural catheter, which also coincided with patient mobilization, the level of pain registered a slight increase to a mean value of 3.23. Conclusions: Multimodal analgesia is currently considered the gold standard in perioperative pain management. The use of multimodal analgesia during perioperative period in patients with bone tumors has been shown to decrease the length of hospital stay, improve surgical outcome, reduce the number of systemic complications, and improve the long-term prognosis of the patient. Efficacy of analgesia correlates with tumor site and vascularization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 185 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 436-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowan R Sheldon ◽  
Jessica B Weiss ◽  
Woo S Do ◽  
Dominic M Forte ◽  
Preston L Carter ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Surgery is a known gateway to opioid use that may result in long-term morbidity. Given the paucity of evidence regarding the appropriate amount of postoperative opioid analgesia and variable prescribing education, we investigated prescribing habits before and after institution of a multimodal postoperative pain management protocol. Materials and Methods Laparoscopic appendectomies, laparoscopic cholecystectomies, inguinal hernia repairs, and umbilical hernia repairs performed at a tertiary military medical center from 01 October 2016 until 30 September 2017 were examined. Prescriptions provided at discharge, oral morphine equivalents (OME), repeat prescriptions, and demographic data were obtained. A pain management regimen emphasizing nonopioid analgesics was then formulated and implemented with patient education about expected postoperative outcomes. After implementation, procedures performed from 01 November 2017 until 28 February 2018 were then examined and analyzed. Additionally, a patient satisfaction survey was provided focusing on efficacy of postoperative pain control. Results Preprotocol, 559 patients met inclusion criteria. About 97.5% were provided an opioid prescription, but prescriptions varied widely (256 OME, standard deviation [SD] 109). Acetaminophen was prescribed often (89.5%), but nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prescriptions were rare (14.7%). About 6.1% of patients required repeat opioid prescriptions. After implementation, 181 patients met inclusion criteria. Initial opioid prescriptions decreased 69.8% (77 OME, SD 35; P &lt; 0.001), while repeat opioid prescriptions remained statistically unchanged (2.79%; P = 0.122). Acetaminophen prescribing rose to 96.7% (P = 0.002), and NSAID utilization increased to 71.0% (P &lt; 0.001). Postoperative survey data were obtained in 75 patients (41.9%). About 68% stated that they did not use all of the opioids prescribed and 81% endorsed excellent or good pain control throughout their postoperative course. Conclusions Appropriate preoperative counseling and utilization of nonopioid analgesics can dramatically reduce opioid use while maintaining high patient satisfaction. Patient-reported data suggest that even greater reductions may be possible.


2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
pp. 1180-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason E. Thuener ◽  
Kate Clancy ◽  
Maxwell Scher ◽  
Mustafa Ascha ◽  
Katrina Harrill ◽  
...  

Pain Medicine ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1012-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil M Elkassabany ◽  
Anthony Wang ◽  
Jason Ochroch ◽  
Matthew Mattera ◽  
Jiabin Liu ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz Aladin ◽  
Adrian Jennings ◽  
Max Hodges ◽  
Alifia Tameem

Lower limb amputation is a frequent surgical intervention. It is well known to be associated with postoperative pain. Optimisation of perioperative pain has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic pain. There are no national guidelines for the perioperative pain management of lower limb amputations. Following a baseline audit, we devised a multimodal perioperative pain management guideline, which included the insertion of a local anaesthetic perineural catheter. All patients undergoing an elective or emergency above, through and below knee amputation were reviewed prior and following the implementation of this guideline. Patient postoperative pain scores and opiate usage were analysed. One hundred and twenty-four patients were reviewed (68 patients prior to the implementation of the guideline and 56 patients following the guideline introduction). Following the implementation of the guideline, a greater proportion of patient’s pain scores were reported as 0 (i.e. no pain) compared to patients prior to its implementation (78% vs 61%). Pain scores were lower at all time intervals 6 days postoperatively following the guideline introduction. Statistically significant (Kendall’s tau-b analysis) (p < 0.05) reduction in pain scores was found upon admission to the ward, 6, 12, 24 hours and 2 days postoperatively. Fewer patients required the use of opioid patient controlled of analgesia after the guideline was introduced (26% vs 4%). The implementation of a perioperative pain management guideline improved pain scores and reduced opioid consumption in patients undergoing lower limb amputations. We suggest a holistic and collaborative, multimodal pathway towards the perioperative pain management of lower limb amputations.


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