Standardized pain care bundles can decrease opioid prescribing for outpatient procedures, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Researchers evaluated 224 laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open hernia repair patients pre-intervention and 192 patients post-intervention who reported pain postoperatively for seven days. A multimodal intra- and postoperative analgesic bundle was implemented which promoted co-analgesia, reduced opioid prescriptions and patient education. Patients completed a pain inventory postoperatively.
The key details to know:
1. There wasn't a difference in average postoperative pain scores between the two groups.
2. Pain control quality improved post-intervention, and the median total morphine equivalents filled post-intervention were significantly less.
3. Seventy-eight out of 172 patients in the post-intervention group filled their opioid prescription.
4. There was not a significant difference in prescription renewals between the two groups.
"For outpatient open hernia repair and cholecystectomy, a standardized pain care bundle decreased opioid prescribing significantly and frequently eliminated opioid use, while adequately treating postoperative pain and improving patient satisfaction," researchers concluded.