Impact of an opioid stewardship program on opioid exposure for pediatric appendectomy post-surgical pain
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In brief
In brief
Quality improvement study demonstrating that implementing a Pediatric Acute Pain Guideline reduced opioid use and hospital length of stay in pediatric appendectomy patients. Scheduling nonopioid pain medications was particularly effective in decreasing opioid exposure during hospitalization.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Abstract
Background/purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a Pediatric Acute Pain Guideline on postsurgical pain scores, opioid exposure, and discharge opioid prescribing habits in postappendectomy patients.
Methods
This was a retrospective single-center quality improvement project, including patients admitted for an appendectomy at a pediatric medical center between April 1 and December 31, 2018. Patients 0–17years of age, who underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy without complications, were inpatient for at least 1 calendar day, and designated as presurgical American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) category 1 or 2 were included.
Results
Two hundred fifty-eight patients met inclusion criteria (n=92 pre-, n=166 post-guideline implementation). There was a decrease in the number of as needed opioid doses used (p=0.014) and length of hospitalization (p=0.003) post-guideline implementation compared to pre-guideline implementation. A decrease in the number of as needed doses of opioids used (p<0.001) and in opioid exposure (p=0.038) during hospitalization was also seen when the nonopioid pain agent was scheduled.
Conclusions
The implementation of the Pediatric Acute Pain Guideline was associated with a decrease in the number of as needed opioid doses used during hospitalization, which may have contributed to a decreased length of hospitalization. Scheduling nonopioid pain medications decreased opioid exposure.
Level of evidence
Treatment study level III.