Eliminating Opiate Prescribing for Children after Non-Perforated Appendectomy

This study demonstrates successful elimination of postoperative opioid prescriptions in pediatric appendectomy patients through a stepwise reduction protocol. Over three time periods, prescriptions decreased from 100% to 1.1% of patients, removing 4,035 oxycodone doses from the community while maintaining adequate pain control with non-opioid alternatives.