The association of multimodal analgesia and high-risk opioid discharge prescriptions in opioid-naive surgical patients

Abstract Background Opioids and multimodal analgesia are widely administered to manage postoperative pain. However, little is known on how improvements in inpatient pain control are correlated with high-risk (> 90 daily OME) discharge opioid prescriptions for opioid naïve surgical patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study of adult opioid-naïve patients undergoing surgery from June 2012 through December 2018 at a large academic medical center. We used multivariate logistic regression to assess whether multimodal analgesic drugs consumed in the 24 h prior to discharge was associated with a reduction in high-risk opioid discharge prescriptions. We identified other risk factors for receiving a high-risk discharge opioid prescription. Results Among the 32,511 patients, 83% of patients were discharged with an opioid prescription. In 2013, 34.1% of patients with a discharge opioid prescription received a high-risk prescription and this declined to 17.7% by 2018. Use of multimodal analgesic agents during the final 24 h of hospitalization increased each year, with over 80% receiving at least one multimodal analgesic agent by 2018. The median OME consumed in the 24 h prior to discharge peaked in 2013 at 31 and steadily decreased to 19.8 by 2018. There was a significant association between the use of acetaminophen in the 24 h prior to discharge and a high-risk prescription at discharge (p < 0.01). OMEs consumed in the 24 h prior to discharge was a significant predictor of receiving a high-risk discharge prescription, even at low doses. Other factors associated with receipt of a high-risk discharge opioid prescription included male gender, race, history of anxiety disorder, and discharge service. Discussion Use of multimodal analgesia regimens in hospitalized surgical patients in the 24 h prior to hospital discharge increased between 2012 and 2018. Simultaneously, opioid use prior to hospital discharge decreased. Despite these gains, approximately one in five discharge prescriptions was high-risk (> 90 daily OME). In addition, we found that prescribing of discharge opioids above inpatient opioid requirements remains common in opioid naive surgical patients. Conclusion Providers should account for pre-discharge opioid consumption and use of multimodal analgesia when considering the total and daily OME’s that may be appropriate for an individual surgical patient on the discharge opioid prescription.

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Perioperative Factors Associated With Chronic Opioid Use After Spine Surgery

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/21925682211035723 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 219256822110357

Author(s):

Eric Y. Montgomery ◽

Mark N. Pernik ◽

Zachary D. Johnson ◽

Luke J. Dosselman ◽

Zachary K. Christian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Spine Surgery ◽

Medical Center ◽

Lumbar Fusion ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Chronic Opioid Use

Study Design: Retrospective case control. Objectives: The purpose of the current study is to determine risk factors associated with chronic opioid use after spine surgery. Methods: In our single institution retrospective study, 1,299 patients undergoing elective spine surgery at a tertiary academic medical center between January 2010 and August 2017 were enrolled into a prospectively collected registry. Patients were dichotomized based on renewal of, or active opioid prescription at 3-mo and 12-mo postoperatively. The primary outcome measures were risk factors for opioid renewal 3-months and 12-months postoperatively. These primarily included demographic characteristics, operative variables, and in-hospital opioid consumption via morphine milligram equivalence (MME). At the 3-month and 12-month periods, we analyzed the aforementioned covariates with multivariate followed by bivariate regression analyses. Results: Multivariate and bivariate analyses revealed that script renewal at 3 months was associated with black race ( P = 0.001), preoperative narcotic ( P < 0.001) or anxiety/depression medication use ( P = 0.002), and intraoperative long lumbar ( P < 0.001) or thoracic spine surgery ( P < 0.001). Lower patient income was also a risk factor for script renewal ( P = 0.01). Script renewal at 12 months was associated with younger age ( P = 0.006), preoperative narcotics use ( P = 0.001), and ≥4 levels of lumbar fusion ( P < 0.001). Renewals at 3-mo and 12-mo had no association with MME given during the hospital stay or with the usage of PCA ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: The current study describes multiple patient-level factors associated with chronic opioid use. Notably, no metric of perioperative opioid utilization was directly associated with chronic opioid use after multivariate analysis.

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Postoperative opioid prescribing patterns and use after vascular surgery

Vascular Medicine ◽

10.1177/1358863x18807540 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 63-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ilsley B Colton ◽

Mayo H Fujii ◽

Thomas P Ahern ◽

Charles D MacLean ◽

Julie E Lahiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Surgery ◽

Best Practice ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Opioid Prescribing ◽

Prescribing Practice

The aim of this study was to assess postoperative opioid prescribing patterns, usage, and pain control after common vascular surgery procedures in order to develop patient centered best-practice guidelines. We performed a prospective review of opioid prescribing after seven common vascular surgeries at a rural, academic medical center from December 2016 to July 2017. A standardized telephone questionnaire was prospectively administered to patients ( n = 110) about opioid use and pain management perceptions. For comparison we retrospectively assessed opioid prescribing patterns ( n = 939) from July 2014 to June 2016 normalized into morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Prescribers were surveyed regarding opioid prescription attitudes, perceptions, and practices. Opioids were prescribed for 78% of procedures, and 70% of patients reported using opioid analgesia. In the prospective group, the median MMEs prescribed were: VEIN (31, n = 16), CEA (40, n = 14), DIAL (60, n = 17), EVAR (108, n = 8), INFRA (160, n = 16), FEM TEA (200, n = 11), and OA (273, n = 4). The median proportion of opioids used by patients across all procedures was only 30% of the amount prescribed across all procedures (range 14–64%). Patients rated the opioid prescribed as appropriate (59%), insufficient (16%), and overprescribed (25%), and pain as very well controlled (47%), well controlled (47%), poorly controlled (4%), and very poorly controlled (2%). In conclusion, we observed significant variability in opioid prescribing after vascular procedures. The overall opioid use was substantially lower than the amount prescribed. These data enabled us to develop guidelines for opioid prescribing practice for our patients.

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Evaluation of a novel metric for personalized opioid prescribing after hospitalization

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0244735 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. e0244735

Author(s):

Nicholas R. Iverson ◽

Catherine Y. Lau ◽

Yumiko Abe-Jones ◽

Margaret C. Fang ◽

Kirsten N. Kangelaris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Absolute Difference ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Electronic Health Record Data ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Maximum Absolute Difference ◽

Marked Variability

Background The duration of an opioid prescribed at hospital discharge does not intrinsically account for opioid needs during a hospitalization. This discrepancy may lead to patients receiving much larger supplies of opioids on discharge than they truly require. Objective Assess a novel discharge opioid supply metric that adjusts for opioid use during hospitalization, compared to the conventional discharge prescription signature. Design, setting, & participants Retrospective study using electronic health record data from June 2012 to November 2018 of adults who received opioids while hospitalized and after discharge from a single academic medical center. Measures & analysis We ascertained inpatient opioids received and milligrams of opioids supplied after discharge, then determined days of opioids supplied after discharge by the conventional prescription signature opioid-days (“conventional days”) and novel hospital-adjusted opioid-days (“adjusted days”) metrics. We calculated descriptive statistics, within-subject difference between measurements, and fold difference between measures. We used multiple linear regression to determine patient-level predictors associated with high difference in days prescribed between measures. Results The adjusted days metric demonstrates a 2.4 day median increase in prescription duration as compared to the conventional days metric (9.4 vs. 7.0 days; P<0.001). 95% of all adjusted days measurements fall within a 0.19 to 6.90-fold difference as compared to conventional days measurements, with a maximum absolute difference of 640 days. Receiving a liquid opioid prescription accounted for an increased prescription duration of 135.6% by the adjusted days metric (95% CI 39.1–299.0%; P = 0.001). Of patients who were not on opioids prior to admission and required opioids during hospitalization but not in the last 24 hours, 325 (8.6%) were discharged with an opioid prescription. Conclusions The adjusted days metric, based on inpatient opioid use, demonstrates that patients are often prescribed a supply lasting longer than the prescription signature suggests, though with marked variability for some patients that suggests potential under-prescribing as well. Adjusted days is more patient-centered, reflecting the reality of how patients will take their prescription rather than providers’ intended prescription duration.

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Impact of Critical Care Consultation Requests for Avoidable Central Venous Catheters on Medical-Surgical Units

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2020.822 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s258-s258

Author(s):

Madhuri Tirumandas ◽

Theresa Madaline ◽

Gregory David Weston ◽

Ruchika Jain ◽

Jamie Figueredo

Keyword(s):

Critical Care ◽

High Risk ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

Central Line ◽

Central Venous Catheters ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Central Venous

Background: Although central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in US hospitals have improved in the last decade, ~30,100 CLABSIs occur annually.1,2 Central venous catheters (CVC) carry a high risk of infections and should be limited to appropriate clinical indications.6,7 Montefiore Medical Center, a large, urban, academic medical center in the Bronx, serves a high-risk population with multiple comobidities.8–11 Despite this, the critical care medicine (CCM) team is often consulted to place a CVC when a peripheral intravenous line (PIV) cannot be obtained by nurses or primary providers. We evaluated the volume of CCM consultation requests for avoidable CVCs and related CLABSIs. Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed for patients with CCM consultation requests for CVC placement between July and October 2019. The indication for CVC, type of catheter inserted or recommended, and NHSN data were used to identify CLABSIs. CVCs were considered avoidable if a PIV was used for the stated indication and duration of therapy, with no anatomical contraindications to PIV in nonemergencies, according to the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC).6Results: Of 229 total CCM consults, 4 (18%) requests were for CVC placement; 21 consultations (9%) were requested for avoidable CVCs. Of 40 CVC requests, 18 (45%) resulted in CVC placement by the CCM team, 4 (10%) were deferred for nonurgent PICC by interventional radiology, and 18 (45%) were deferred in favor of PIV or no IV. Indications for CVC insertion included emergent chemotherapy (n = 8, 44%) and dialysis (n = 3, 16%), vasopressors (n = 3, 16%), antibiotics (n = 2, 11%) and blood transfusion (n = 2, 11%). Of 18 CVCs, 9 (50%) were potentially avoidable: 2 short-term antibiotics and rest for nonemergent indications; 2 blood transfusions, 1 dialysis, 2 chemotherapy and 2 vasopressors. Between July and October 2019, 6 CLABSIs occurred in CVCs placed by the CCM team; in 3 of 6 CLABSI events (50%), the CVC was avoidable. Conclusions: More than half of consultation requests to the CCM team for CVCs are avoidable, and they disproportionately contribute to CLABSI events. Alternatives for intravenous access could potentially avoid 9% of CCM consultations and 50% of CLABSIs in CCM-inserted CVCs on medical-surgical wards.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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Sex, Race, Insurance, and Pain: Do Patient Sociodemographics Influence Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions Among Hand Surgeons?

Hand ◽

10.1177/1558944721998020 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155894472199802

Author(s):

Connor J. Peck ◽

Martin Carney ◽

Alexander Chiu ◽

Kitae E. Park ◽

Alexandre Prassinos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Medical Center ◽

Carpal Tunnel Release ◽

Private Insurance ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Age Groups ◽

Postoperative Pain Management ◽

Patient Treatment ◽

Opioid Prescription ◽

History Of

Background: Social and demographic factors may influence patient treatment by physicians. This study analyzes the influence of patient sociodemographics on prescription practices among hand surgeons. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all hand surgeries (N = 5278) at a single academic medical center from January 2016 to September 2018. The average morphine milligram equivalent (MME) prescribed following each surgery was calculated and then classified by age, race, sex, type of insurance, and history of substance use or chronic pain. Multivariate linear regression was used to compare MME among groups. Results: Overall, patients with a history of substance abuse were prescribed 31.2 MME more than those without ( P < .0001), and patients with a history of chronic pain were prescribed 36.7 MME more than those without ( P < .0001). After adjusting for these variables and the type of procedure performed, women were prescribed 11.2 MME less than men ( P = .0048), and Hispanics were prescribed 16.6 MME more than whites ( P = .0091) overall. Both Hispanic and black patients were also prescribed more than whites following carpal tunnel release (+19.0 and + 20.0 MME, respectively; P < .001). Patients with private insurance were prescribed 24.5 MME more than those with Medicare ( P < .0001), but 25.0 MME less than those with Medicaid ( P < .0001). There were no differences across age groups. Conclusions: Numerous sociodemographic factors influenced postoperative opioid prescription among hand surgeons at our institution. These findings highlight the importance of establishing more uniform, evidence-based guidelines for postoperative pain management, which may help minimize subjectivity and prevent the overtreatment or undertreatment of pain in certain patient populations.

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Loop diuretic use following fluid resuscitation in the critically ill

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy ◽

10.1093/ajhp/zxab372 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mashael A Alaskar ◽

Joshua D Brown ◽

Stacy A Voils ◽

Scott M Vouri

Keyword(s):

Hospital Discharge ◽

Fluid Resuscitation ◽

Loop Diuretic ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Loop Diuretics ◽

Intravenous Fluid ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Icu Stay ◽

Potential Factors

Abstract Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose To identify the incidence of continuation of newly initiated loop diuretics upon intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital discharge and identify factors associated with continuation. Methods This was a single-center retrospective study using electronic health records in the setting of adult ICUs at a quaternary care academic medical center. It involved patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2019, who received intravenous fluid resuscitation. The endpoints of interest were (1) the incidence of loop diuretic use during an ICU stay following fluid resuscitation, (2) continuation of loop diuretics following transition of care, and (3) potential factors associated with loop diuretic continuation after transition from the ICU. Results Of 3,591 patients who received intravenous fluid resuscitation for sepsis, 39.4% (n = 1,415) were newly started on loop diuretics during their ICU stay. Among patients who transitioned to the hospital ward from the ICU, loop diuretics were continued in 33% (388/1,193) of patients. At hospital discharge, 13.4% (52/388) of these patients were prescribed a loop diuretic to be used in the outpatient setting. History of liver disease, development of acute kidney injury, being on vasopressors while in the ICU, receiving blood products, and receiving greater than 90 mL/kg of bolus fluids were significant potential factors associated with loop diuretic continuation after transition from the ICU. Conclusion New initiation of loop diuretics following intravenous fluid resuscitation in patients with sepsis during an ICU stay is a common occurrence. Studies are needed to assess the effect of this practice on patient outcomes and resource utilization.

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Deliberate Increase of Oxygen Delivery in the Perioperative Period

50 Studies Every Anesthesiologist Should Know ◽

10.1093/med/9780190237691.003.0007 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 34-38

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Consumption ◽

High Risk ◽

Cardiac Index ◽

Oxygen Delivery ◽

Myocardial Oxygen Consumption ◽

Perioperative Period ◽

Surgical Patients ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Surgical Patient ◽

Mortality And Morbidity

This case focuses on increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the surgical patient during the perioperative period by asking the question: Does the deliberate increase in oxygen delivery with the use of perioperative dopexamine reduce mortality and morbidity in high-risk surgical patients? Dopexamine is a dopamine analogue that produces peripheral vasodilation and an increase in cardiac index without significant increases in myocardial oxygen consumption. High-risk surgical patients were randomized to control or protocol limbs of the study. This randomized controlled study demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality and morbidity when dopexamine was used to increase oxygen delivery during the perioperative period in high-risk surgical patients.

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Reducing Preventable Readmissions in a Neurosurgical Patient Population at an Academic Medical Center

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/neuros/nyz310_434 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Shayan Moosa ◽

Lindsay Bowerman ◽

Ellen Smith ◽

Mindy Bryant ◽

Natalie Krovetz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Patient Population ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Readmission Rates ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Neurosurgical Patient ◽

Neurosurgical Patients ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract INTRODUCTION Hospital readmissions are extremely costly in terms of time and resources and negatively impact patient safety and satisfaction. In this study, we performed a Pareto analysis of 30-day readmissions in a neurosurgical patient population in order to identify patients at high-risk for readmission. Using this information, we implemented a new practice parameter with the goal of reducing preventable readmissions. METHODS Patient characteristics and causes for readmission were prospectively collected for all neurosurgical patients readmitted to an academic medical center within 30 d of discharge between July and October 2018. A program was then initiated where postoperative neurosurgical spine patients were contacted by phone at standardized intervals before their 2-wk follow-up appointment, with the purpose of more quickly addressing surgical concerns and/or coordinating care for general medical issues. Finally, 30-d readmission rates were compared between the initial 4-mo period and January 2019 through April 2019. RESULTS Prior to intervention, the largest group of readmitted patients included those who had undergone recent spinal surgery (16/47, 34%). Among spine readmissions during this time, 47% were readmitted before their two-week follow-up appointment, 67% lived over 50 miles from the medical center, and 40% were Medicare-insured. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean rate of spine readmissions per month in the periods before (7.0%) and after (3.0%) the program onset (P = .029, 57% decline). The total number of surgically and medically related spine readmissions decreased between the pre- and postintervention periods from 10 to 3 (70%) and 3 to 1 (67%), respectively. CONCLUSION Our data suggests that a large number of neurosurgical readmissions may be prevented by the simple process of early follow-up and consistent communication via telephone. Readmission rates may be further reduced by standardizing the coordination of postoperative general medical follow-up and providing thorough wound care teaching for high-risk patients.

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