A Quality Improvement Intervention to Reduce Postoperative Opiate Use in Neonates

Quality improvement initiative successfully reduced postoperative opioid use in neonates undergoing GI surgery by 98% through standing IV acetaminophen, standardized pain management protocols, and provider education. The intervention maintained equivalent pain control while reducing ventilation time by 24 hours and TPN duration by 7 days, demonstrating both safety and clinical benefits of opioid-sparing strategies in the NICU.