TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimizing Opioid-Prescribing Practices After Parathyroidectomy
AU - Sada, Alaa
AU - Ubl, Daniel S.
AU - Thiels, Cornelius A.
AU - Cronin, Patricia A.
AU - Dy, Benzon M.
AU - Lyden, Melanie L.
AU - Thompson, Geoffrey B.
AU - McKenzie, Travis J.
AU - Habermann, Elizabeth B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2020/1
Y1 - 2020/1
N2 - Background: To help control opioid overprescription, we conducted a large institutional, 3-site initiative to provide discharge prescribing guidelines for different procedures. Our aim is to refine institutional guidelines for parathyroidectomy. Methods: Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy completed a 28-question survey about opioid consumption. Discharge opioid prescription amounts were converted into morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) and reported as median and interquartile range (IQR). Consumption was dichotomized into top quartile MME users (Q4) versus standard users (Q1, Q3). Univariate analysis compared opioid consumption. Results: A total of 91 patients were included; 90% were opioid-naive. While the median prescribed was 75 (IQR 75, 150) MME, the median consumed was 0 (IQR 0, 20). Top users reported higher pain scores [median (IQR): 2 (2, 4)] compared to standard users [1 (0, 3), P = 0.01]. However, there was no difference in opioid consumption between unilateral neck exploration, bilateral exploration, or thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy, P = 0.11. There was no difference in opioid consumption by age, sex, or BMI (all P > 0.05). Of those receiving a prescription, 94.6% had left-over opioids at the time of survey, resulting in 82% of prescribed opioids being unused. Conclusions: Over half of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy did not consume any opioid, and very few needed more than 2 d of opioid. Moreover, most patients did not dispose the unused opioids, which put these pills at risk of diversion and misuse. Surgical approach did not change consumption, illustrating that these guidelines are applicable to thyroidectomy given the similarity between techniques. We recommend prescribing nonopioid analgesics for patients undergoing parathyroidectomy.
AB - Background: To help control opioid overprescription, we conducted a large institutional, 3-site initiative to provide discharge prescribing guidelines for different procedures. Our aim is to refine institutional guidelines for parathyroidectomy. Methods: Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy completed a 28-question survey about opioid consumption. Discharge opioid prescription amounts were converted into morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) and reported as median and interquartile range (IQR). Consumption was dichotomized into top quartile MME users (Q4) versus standard users (Q1, Q3). Univariate analysis compared opioid consumption. Results: A total of 91 patients were included; 90% were opioid-naive. While the median prescribed was 75 (IQR 75, 150) MME, the median consumed was 0 (IQR 0, 20). Top users reported higher pain scores [median (IQR): 2 (2, 4)] compared to standard users [1 (0, 3), P = 0.01]. However, there was no difference in opioid consumption between unilateral neck exploration, bilateral exploration, or thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy, P = 0.11. There was no difference in opioid consumption by age, sex, or BMI (all P > 0.05). Of those receiving a prescription, 94.6% had left-over opioids at the time of survey, resulting in 82% of prescribed opioids being unused. Conclusions: Over half of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy did not consume any opioid, and very few needed more than 2 d of opioid. Moreover, most patients did not dispose the unused opioids, which put these pills at risk of diversion and misuse. Surgical approach did not change consumption, illustrating that these guidelines are applicable to thyroidectomy given the similarity between techniques. We recommend prescribing nonopioid analgesics for patients undergoing parathyroidectomy.
KW - Opioid
KW - Parathyroidectomy
KW - Postoperative pain
KW - Thyroidectomy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070388492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85070388492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jss.2019.07.039
DO - 10.1016/j.jss.2019.07.039
M3 - Article
C2 - 31415931
AN - SCOPUS:85070388492
SN - 0022-4804
VL - 245
SP - 107
EP - 114
JO - Journal of Surgical Research
JF - Journal of Surgical Research
ER -