Implications of uninterrupted preoperative transdermal buprenorphine use on postoperative pain management

Methadone and Buprenorphine in the Perioperative Setting: A Review of the Literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to highlight the most recent literature and guidelines regarding perioperative methadone and buprenorphine use.

RECENT FINDINGS

Surgical patients taking methadone and buprenorphine are being encountered more frequently in the perioperative period, and providers are becoming more familiar with their pharmacologic properties, benefits as well as precautions. Recommendations pertaining to buprenorphine therapy in the perioperative settings have changed in recent years, owing to more clinical and basic science research. In addition to their use in chronic pain and opioid use disorders, they can also be initiated for acute postoperative pain indications, in select patients and situations. Methadone and buprenorphine are being more commonly prescribed for pain management and opioid use disorder, and their continuation during the perioperative period is generally recommended, to reduce the risk of opioid withdrawal, relapse, or inadequately controlled pain. Additionally, both may be initiated safely and effectively for acute pain management during and after the operating room period.

Postoperative Pain and Opioid Dose Requirements in Patients on Sublingual Buprenorphine: A Retrospective Cohort Study for Comparison Between Postoperative Continuation and Discontinuation of Buprenorphine

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that patients who continued buprenorphine postoperatively experience less severe pain and require a smaller dose of opioids than those who discontinued buprenorphine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of surgical patients who were on buprenorphine preoperatively. Using our previous study's data as pilot data, we selected the covariates to be included in 2 regression models with postoperative time-weighted average pain score and opioid dose requirements in morphine milligram equivalents during 48 hours after surgery as the outcomes. Both contained preoperative daily buprenorphine dose, whether buprenorphine was continued postoperatively, and the preoperative daily dose-by-postoperative continuation interaction as predictors. Precision variables were identified by exhaustive search of perioperative parameters with the exposure variables (preoperative daily dose, postoperative continuation, and their interaction) included in the regression model. The model selected by using the pilot data was estimated again using the new data extracted for this study to make inference about the effect of the 2 exposures (postoperative buprenorphine continuation and preoperative daily buprenorphine dose) and their interaction on the outcomes.

RESULTS

Continuing buprenorphine was associated with a 1.3-point lower time-weighted average pain score than discontinuing (95% confidence interval, 0.39-2.21; P=0.005) but was not associated with a difference in opioid dose requirements (P=0.48).

DISCUSSION

Continuing buprenorphine was associated with lower postoperative pain levels than discontinuing. Our results were primarily driven by patients on lower buprenorphine dose as only 22% of patients were on daily doses of 24 mg or above.

Perioperative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: Where Do We Currently Stand?

Total Hip replacement (THR) is a well-discussed topic, and it offers excellent results in patients suffering from end-stage osteoarthritis (OA). However, despite the fact that patients can fully bear weight immediately after the surgery, THR is often associated with a great amount of postoperative pain affecting recovery and rehabilitation. Therefore, the efficient management of pain is of paramount importance. The aim of this review is to examine all the currently available strategies of pain management such as preemptive analgesia (PA), patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), and the various types of anesthesia that are used during the operation. With that objective in mind, we conducted our research by searching through the PubMed database for articles published in 2015 and after. For purely clinical reasons, we have attempted to classify all the best available evidence into three major categories: prior to surgery, during the surgery, and after the surgery. Multimodal analgesia seems to play a major role in the perioperative care of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Therefore, a considerable number of studies have been conducted analyzing all the current strategies that aim to minimize perioperative pain and consequent complications.

Evidence for Continuing Buprenorphine in the Perioperative Period

OBJECTIVE

Given there are conflicting recommendations for the perioperative management of buprenorphine, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of our surgery patients on buprenorphine whose baseline dose had been preoperatively continued, tapered, or discontinued.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed charts of patients on buprenorphine who had received elective surgery at Stanford Healthcare from January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016. Our primary outcome of interest was the change in pain score, defined as mean postoperative pain score-preoperative pain score. We also collected data on patients' tapering procedure and any postoperative nonbuprenorphine opioid requirements.

RESULTS

Out of ∼1200 patients on buprenorphine, 121 had surgery of which 50 were admitted and included in the study. Perioperative continuation of transdermal buprenorphine resulted in a significantly lower change in pain score postoperatively (0.606±0.878) than discontinuation (4.83±1.23, P=0.012). Among sublingual patients, there was no statistically significant difference in the change in pain score between those who were tapered to a nonzero dose versus discontinued (P=0.55). Continuation of sublingual buprenorphine resulted in fewer nonbuprenorphine scheduled opioid prescriptions than its taper or discontinuation (P=0.028). Finally, tapers were performed with great variability in the tapering team and rate of taper.

DISCUSSION

On the basis of our findings, we implemented a policy at our institution for the continuation of perioperative buprenorphine whenever possible. Our work reveals crucial targets for the education of perioperative healthcare providers and the importance of coordination among all perioperative services and providers.

A Practical Approach for the Management of the Mixed Opioid Agonist-Antagonist Buprenorphine During Acute Pain and Surgery

The use of buprenorphine, a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist, for the management of chronic pain and/or opioid use disorder is increasing. As such, medical providers will more frequently encounter patients on this therapy. In this paper, we synthesize existing knowledge (derived through keyword searches using MEDLINE databases) in a novel conceptual framework for patients on buprenorphine presenting with acute pain or for those requiring surgical or invasive procedures. This framework is based on three unique domains: the patient, the features of the acute pain insult, and the environment. We discuss important considerations regarding the unique aspects of buprenorphine formulations and dosing, and we describe the importance of multidisciplinary planning and multimodal analgesic strategies. We also highlight important differences in management strategies based upon the presence or absence of opioid use disorder. All medical providers must be prepared to guide the patient on buprenorphine safely through the acute care episode, which includes adequate treatment of acute pain and avoidance of iatrogenic harm, including both short-term complications (eg, respiratory depression) and long-term complications (eg, relapse to opioid use).

Perioperative Management of Patients on Buprenorphine and Methadone: A Narrative Review

The opioid epidemic has emerged as a major health and social problem over the last few decades. An increasing number of patients with opioid use disorder are presenting for perioperative management. These patients are either on buprenorphine or methadone for the maintenance and treatment of opioid addiction or chronic pain. In the settings of acute pain, the optimal management of patients with opioid use disorder is challenging, and recovery can be jeopardized secondary to the unique pharmacology of these agents. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the existing studies on the perioperative management of patients who are using buprenorphine and methadone and provide guidance for the management of patients with opioid use disorder during the perioperative period.

Buprenorphine management: a conundrum for the anesthesiologist and beyond - a one-act play

We have witnessed a worldwide upsurge of streamlined enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways advocating for consistency and compliance within their guidelines. At a recent national conference, two experts defended their institutional policies on perioperative management of buprenorphine, one defending its continuation, while the other suggesting its discontinuation. The moderator diplomatically proclaimed the need to have guidance at the institutional level and following it for favorable patient outcomes. Unfortunately, perioperative management of buprenorphine remains an understudied topic with a lack of national guidelines leading to variations at a local level despite its increased use nationally in the current opioid crisis. Although the moderator made a valid statement, we demonstrate via our one-act play the importance of recognizing a subset of the population within an ERAS pathway that necessitates multidisciplinary discussion, communication, and patient-centric care to formulate a perioperative plan coordinating a patient's care. More robust research is needed to minimize variability in current practices and to further develop comprehensive evidence-based guidelines that encompass risk factors and anticipated postsurgical and peripartum pain for patients on buprenorphine.

Perioperative opioid requirements of patients receiving sublingual buprenorphine-naloxone: a case series

Background

Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, displaces full opioid agonists from receptors and may impede surgical pain management. We report the effects of a sublingual formulation of buprenorphine-naloxone, Suboxone (SL-BUP), on perioperative pain management.

Methods

We identified all adult surgical patients from December 31, 2004, to January 1, 2016, who received SL-BUP within 30 days prior to procedures performed with general, regional, or combined general/regional anesthesia. We recorded opioid use during the procedure, in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and during the 24 h following PACU discharge. We also examined opioid use in those who continued SL-BUP until the day of surgery vs those who preoperatively discontinued SL-BUP.

Results

Thirty-two patients were treated preoperatively with SL-BUP. Three patients had regional anesthesia only, and opioid requirements were case dependent. Requirements were minimal for creation of an arteriovenous fistula and high following knee replacement and cesarean section. Twelve patients received combined general/regional anesthesia, and 17 received general anesthesia only. Intraoperative and PACU opioid use in these 2 groups were not significantly different (P = .10 and P = .93, respectively). In both groups opioid use increased after discharge from the PACU, and remained comparable between the general and combined general/regional group through the first 24 h after PACU discharge (P = .78). Although median [interquartile range] 24-h opioid doses were higher among patients who discontinued SL-BUP, the difference was not statistically significant in the general anesthesia–only group (SL-BUP discontinued, 199 [110–411] mg IV-MEq [intravenous morphine equivalent] vs SL-BUP continued, 106 [58–160] mg IV-MEq; P = .15) or in the combined general/regional group (SL-BUP discontinued, 140 [100–157] mg IV-MEq vs SL-BUP continued, 100 [73–203] mg IV-MEq; P = .94).

Conclusions

Regardless of the type of anesthesia used, physicians treating patients with SL-BUP must be prepared to administer large doses of opioids during the early postoperative period. No difference in opioid requirements was noted between patients who perioperatively stopped SL-BUP versus those who continued SL-BUP.