Research priorities for the surgical care of patients taking opioids preoperatively

Article Surgery

Effect of pre-operative opioid exposure on surgical outcomes in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Breanna Perlmutter et al.

Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of pre-operative opioid use on post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The results showed a high prevalence of pre-operative opioid use and a positive correlation between the number of opioid prescriptions and length of hospital stay and readmission rate. Surgeons should assess pre-operative opioid use to minimize adverse post-operative outcomes.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY (2022)

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Article Anesthesiology

A multisociety organizational consensus process to define guiding principles for acute perioperative pain management

Edward R. Mariano et al.

Summary: The report emphasizes the importance of individualized, multidisciplinary, and multimodal approaches to pain management as well as the need to reduce over-reliance on opioids. A consortium of 14 professional healthcare societies committed to improving pain management for surgical patients and opioid safety through collaborative efforts, establishing seven common guiding principles.

REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Anesthesiology

Balanced Opioid-free Anesthesia with Dexmedetomidine versus Balanced Anesthesia with Remifentanil for Major or Intermediate Noncardiac Surgery: The Postoperative and Opioid-free Anesthesia (POFA) Randomized Clinical Trial

Helene Beloeil et al.

Summary: The study found that using dexmedetomidine for opioid-free balanced anesthesia does not reduce postoperative opioid-related adverse events, but instead leads to more serious adverse events, especially hypoxemia and vagal reflex.

ANESTHESIOLOGY (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Systematic Evaluation of State Policy Interventions Targeting the US Opioid Epidemic, 2007-2018

Byungkyu Lee et al.

Summary: This study evaluated the impact of drug policies in 6 US states on prescription opioid abuse, opioid use disorder, and overdose deaths. It found that mandatory PDMPs were associated with a decrease in prescription opioid abuse indicators, but may also lead to an increase in overdose deaths due to users turning to illicit drugs.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Racial Inequality in Prescription Opioid Receipt - Role of Individual Health Systems

Nancy E. Morden et al.

Summary: This study analyzed data from 2016 and 2017 on filled opioid prescriptions for disabled Medicare beneficiaries to compare differences between Black and White patients within the same health systems. The findings showed a 36% lower mean annual opioid dose for Black patients compared to White patients. In 75% of the 310 health systems studied, the mean annual dose was at least 15% higher for White patients than Black patients.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Anesthesiology