Fewer postoperative opioids are associated with decreased duration of stay for children with perforated appendicitis

This large retrospective study of nearly 48,000 pediatric patients found that opioid use on postoperative day 1 after appendectomy for perforated appendicitis was associated with 0.75-day longer hospital stays, with continued opioid use extending stays by nearly 2 days. The findings suggest minimizing opioid analgesia may reduce length of stay without affecting readmission rates.