Nonopioid, Multimodal Analgesia as First-line Therapy After Otolaryngology Operations: Primer on Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Care of the Pediatric Patient for Ambulatory Tonsillectomy With or Without Adenoidectomy: The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia Position Statement

The landscape of ambulatory surgery is changing, and tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures performed nationally. The number of children undergoing tonsillectomy on an ambulatory basis continues to increase. The 2 most common indications for tonsillectomy are recurrent throat infections and obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. The most frequent early complications after tonsillectomy are hemorrhage and ventilatory compromise. In areas lacking a dedicated children's hospital, these cases are managed by a nonpediatric specialized anesthesiologist and general otolaryngology surgeon. In response to requests from our members without pediatric fellowship training and/or who care for pediatric patients infrequently, the Pediatric Committee of the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA) developed a position statement with recommendations for the safe perioperative care of pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy with and without adenoidectomy in freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities. This statement identifies children that are more likely to experience complications and to require additional dedicated provider time that is not conducive to the rapid pace and staffing ratios of many freestanding ambulatory centers with mixed adult and pediatric practices. The aim is to provide health care professionals with practical criteria and suggestions based on the best available evidence. When high-quality evidence is unavailable, we relied on group consensus from pediatric ambulatory specialists in the SAMBA Pediatric Committee. Consensus recommendations were presented to the Pediatric Committee of SAMBA.

Efficacy and safety of perioperative ibuprofen for pain control after pediatric tonsillectomy: A systemic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the safety and effectiveness of perioperative ibuprofen in pediatric tonsillectomy through a meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive review of studies available in PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to June 2024. This analysis compared perioperative ibuprofen administration to control groups (saline, acetaminophen, or opioids). Outcomes assessed were postoperative pain management, as indicated by the frequency of analgesic use, and morbidity rates, which included the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH). PTH was further categorized as primary (occurring on the day of operation) or secondary (occurring after the day of operation), and classified as type 1 (observed at home or evaluated in the emergency department without further intervention), type 2 (requiring readmission for observation), or type 3 (necessitating a return to the operating room for hemorrhage control).

RESULTS

This analysis included nine studies involving a total of 1545 patients. Incidences of primary PTH (OR = 1.0949, 95 % CI [0.4169; 2.8755], I2 = 0.0 %), secondary PTH (OR = 1.6433 95 % CI [0.7783; 3.4695], I2 = 0.1 %), and overall PTH (OR = 1.4296 95 % CI [0.8383; 2.4378], I2 = 0.0 %) were not significantly higher in the ibuprofen group than the control groups. Administration of ibuprofen led to a significant decrease in postoperative nausea and vomiting (OR = 0.4228 95 % CI [0.2500; 0.7150], I2 = 40.0 %) and frequency of postoperative analgesic uptake (OR = 0.4734 95 % CI [0.2840; 0.7893]; I2 = 19.8 %). There was no difference in bleeding by type between the ibuprofen and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis demonstrated that administration of ibuprofen for pediatric tonsillectomy did not significantly increase the incidence of postoperative bleeding but did decrease postoperative emesis and improve pain control.

Comparison of the effects of submucosal hyaluronidase and dexamethasone on postoperative edema, pain, trismus, and infection following impacted third molar surgery

BACKGROUND

Limiting postoperative edema, pain, trismus, and infection is crucial for smooth healing. This prospective, controlled clinical trial investigated and compared the effectiveness of dexamethasone and hyaluronidase in relieving these complications.

METHODS

In groups Ia and IIa, 8 mg of dexamethasone and 150 IU of hyaluronidase were administered following the removal of impacted teeth, respectively. The contralateral sides (groups Ib and IIb) were determined as control groups. Edema, pain, trismus, and infection were clinically evaluated on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days.

RESULTS

60 patients were enrolled in the study. Hyaluronidase provided significantly more edema relief than dexamethasone on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days (P = 0.031, 0.002, 0.000, and 0.009, respectively). No statistical difference was found between dexamethasone and hyaluronidase in VAS and rescue analgesic intake amount values for all time points. Hyaluronidase was more effective in reducing trismus than dexamethasone on the 2nd and 3rd postoperative days (P = 0.029, 0.024, respectively). Neither of the agents significantly increased the postoperative infection rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyaluronidase can be selected when postoperative excessive edema and trismus are anticipated. Dexamethasone may be a cost-effective option if postoperative pain control is merely targeted.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Protocol Registration and Results System (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier number: NCT05466604) on 20/07/2022.

Postoperative Analgesic Regimens and Their Satisfaction Rates-Data from the Swedish Quality Register for Tonsil Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To describe postoperative analgesic regimens and patient-reported pain-related outcomes after tonsil surgery.

METHODS

Cohort study including perioperative data (n = 9274) and patient-reported outcome measures (n = 5080) registered in the Swedish Quality Register for Tonsil Surgery during 2023.

RESULTS

After tonsil surgery, 92.7% received at least paracetamol and a NSAID/COX inhibitor, while 6.8% received no NSAID/COX inhibitor. Opioids were prescribed after tonsillectomy to 62.9% of adults and less often to adolescents and children (13-17-year-olds: 48.2%, 6-12-year-olds: 8.8%, 0-5-year-olds: 4.0%). Clonidine was frequently prescribed to 0-5-year-olds after tonsillectomy (54.4%). Overall, 11.7% reported dissatisfaction with the pain treatment, with the highest dissatisfaction rate after tonsillectomy in adolescents (20.6%) and adults (20.0%), and the lowest after tonsillotomy in children (4.9-6.8%). The most common complaint among dissatisfied patients was analgesics not being sufficiently helpful. Adult patients who received addition of opioids were less dissatisfied with the pain treatment (15.9% vs. 25.9%, p < 0.001), but also reported more side effects (5.7% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.039), compared with patients who received only paracetamol and NSAID/COX inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

Tonsil surgery patients in Sweden receive various analgesic regimens. Although most are satisfied with pain treatment, there is room for improvement, particularly among adolescents and adults undergoing tonsillectomy. Paracetamol and a NSAID/COX inhibitor seem advisable as basic treatment. However, many patients need more effective treatment. The addition of opioids in adults results in greater satisfaction with pain treatment, but safety issues with opioid prescriptions must be taken into consideration.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Does Celecoxib Prescription for Pain Management Affect Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage Requiring Surgery? A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy (referred to as tonsillectomy hereafter) are common pediatric surgeries. Postoperative complications include hemorrhage requiring surgery (2 to 3% of cases) and pain. Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly administered for postsurgical pain, controversy exists regarding bleeding risk with cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition and associated platelet dysfunction. Preliminary evidence suggests selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, for example celecoxib, effectively manage pain without adverse events including bleeding. Given the paucity of data for routine celecoxib use after tonsillectomy, this study was designed to investigate the association between postoperative celecoxib prescription and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery using chart-review data from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

METHODS

After ethics approval, a retrospective single-center observational cohort study was performed in children less than 18 yr of age undergoing tonsillectomy from January 2007 to December 2017. Cases of adenoidectomy alone were excluded due to low bleed rates. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery. The association between a celecoxib prescription and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery was estimated using inverse probability of treatment weighting based on propensity scores and using generalized estimating equations to accommodate clustering by surgeon.

RESULTS

An initial patient cohort of 6,468 was identified, and 5,846 children with complete data were included in analyses. Median (interquartile range) age was 6.10 (4.40, 9.00) yr, and 46% were female. In the cohort, 28.1% (n = 1,644) were prescribed celecoxib. Among the 4,996 tonsillectomy patients, 1.7% (n = 86) experienced post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery. The proportion with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery among patients who had a tonsillectomy and were or were not prescribed celecoxib was 1.94% (30 of 1,548; 95% CI, 1.36 to 2.75) and 1.62% (56 of 3,448; 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.10), respectively. Modeling did not identify an association between celecoxib prescription and increased odds of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery (odds ratio = 1.4; 95% CI, 0.85 to 2.31; P = 0.20).

CONCLUSIONS

Celecoxib does not significantly increase the odds of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery, after adjusting for covariates. This large pediatric cohort study of celecoxib administered after tonsillectomy provides compelling evidence for safety but requires confirmation with a multisite randomized controlled trial.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Opioid and non-opioid analgesic regimens after fracture and risk of serious opioid-related events

Background

Non-opioid analgesics are prescribed in combination with opioids among patients with long bone fracture to reduce opioid prescribing needs, yet evidence is limited on whether they reduce the risk of serious opioid-related events (SOREs). We compared the risk of SOREs among hospitalized patients with long bone fracture discharged with filled opioid prescriptions, with and without non-opioid analgesics.

Design

We identified a retrospective cohort of analgesic-naïve adult patients with a long bone fracture hospitalization using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Database (2013-2020). The exposure was opioid and non-opioid analgesic (gabapentinoids, muscle relaxants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen) prescriptions filled in the 3 days before through 42 days after discharge. The outcome was the development of new persistent opioid use or opioid use disorder during follow-up (day 43 through day 408 after discharge). We used Cox proportional hazards regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting with overlap trimming to compare outcomes among those that filled an opioid and a non-opioid analgesic to those that filled only an opioid analgesic. In secondary analyses, we used separate models to compare those that filled a prescription for each specific non-opioid analgesic type with opioids to those that filled only opioids.

Results

Of 29 489 patients, most filled an opioid prescription alone (58.4%) or an opioid and non-opioid (22.0%). In the weighted proportional hazards regression model accounting for relevant covariates and total MME, filling both a non-opioid analgesic and an opioid analgesic was associated with 1.63 times increased risk of SOREs compared with filling an opioid analgesic only (95% CI 1.41 to 1.89). Filling a gabapentin prescription in combination with an opioid was associated with an increased risk of SOREs compared with those that filled an opioid only (adjusted HR: 1.84 (95% CI1.48 to 2.27)).

Conclusions

Filling a non-opioid analgesic in combination with an opioid was associated with an increased risk of SOREs after long bone fracture.

Level of evidence

Level III, prognostic/epidemiological.

Study type

Retrospective cohort study.

Prednisone Decreases Opioid Use in Adults Undergoing Benign Oropharyngeal Surgery

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to analyze the efficacy and safety of postoperative prednisone to reduce reliance on opioids in adult benign oropharyngeal surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Single tertiary-care facility.

METHODS

Patients undergoing tonsillectomy (T), tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A), and/or modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) from December 2020 to January 2023 received the standard of care postoperative management. A prednisone taper was dependent on surgeon preference. Cohorts were based on the prescription of postoperative steroids. Patients completed a survey to assess opioid usage, pain scores, and steroid compliance.

RESULTS

Seventy-two patients were included. The nonsteroid cohort (N = 29) received an average of 467 ± 94.1 morphine milligram equivalents (MME), and the steroid cohort (N = 43) received an average of 285 ± 128 MME (P < 0.001). The nonsteroid cohort consumed 1.62 times more opioids than the steroid cohort (P < 0.002). There were no significant differences in complication or refill rates between treatment groups. There were no significant differences in pain scores on the day of surgery or postoperative days 1, 5, or 10 (P = 0.34, P = 0.66, P = 0.62, and P = 0.22, respectively). Patients undergoing T&A (p = 0.019) or who had current psychiatric medication use (P < 0.006) consumed significantly more opioids. Patients who received a total opioid prescription of >300 MME (40 5-mL doses of 5 mg/5 mL liquid oxycodone) consumed 2.27 times more postoperative opioids than patients with opioid prescriptions ≤300 MME (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients who did not receive steroids consumed 1.62 times more postoperative opioids compared to those who completed a steroid taper. Corticosteroid use was not associated with changes in pain scores, refill rates, or complication rates and may be considered in a multimodal approach to pain management in adults undergoing benign oropharyngeal surgery, although further study is warranted.

Reducing Pediatric Posttonsillectomy Opioid Prescribing: A Quality Improvement Initiative

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative pain is the most common morbidity associated with tonsillectomy. Opioids are frequently used in multimodal posttonsillectomy analgesia regimens; however, concerns regarding respiratory depression, drug-drug interactions, and medication misuse necessitate responsible opioid stewardship among prescribing surgeons. It is unclear if intentionally reducing opioid prescription doses negatively affects the patient experience.

METHODS

A quality improvement team reviewed all posttonsillectomy opioid prescriptions at a pediatric ambulatory surgery center between January and June 2021 (preintervention, 163 patients). Following this review, we performed an opioid education session for surgeons and studied opioid prescribing habits between July and December 2021 (Plan-Do-Study-Act [PDSA] 1, 152 patients). We then implemented a standardized prescription protocol of 7 doses of oxycodone per patient and again reviewed prescriptions between January and June 2022 (PDSA 2, 178 patients). The following measures were evaluated: initial number of opioid doses prescribed, need for refills, 7-day emergency department (ED) visits, and readmissions.

RESULTS

Each intervention reduced the average number of initial oxycodone doses per patient (12.2 vs 9.2 vs 6.9 doses, P < .001). There were no changes in the rate of refill requests, 7-day ED visits, and readmissions, by descriptive or Statistical Process Control analyses.

DISCUSSION

In 2 PDSA cycles, we achieved a 43% reduction in the number of doses of oxycodone prescribed following tonsillectomy. We did not observe any increased rates in balancing measures, which are surrogates for unintentional effects of PDSA changes, including refills, ED presentations, and readmission rates.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Directed provider education and standardized posttonsillectomy prescription protocols can safely decrease postoperative opioid prescribing. Further PDSA cycles are required to consider even fewer opioid prescription doses.

Considerations for Functional Nasal Surgery in the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Population

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nasal obstruction are common in the general population and frequently treated by otolaryngologists and facial plastic surgeons. Understanding the appropriate pre-, peri-, and postoperative management of OSA patients undergoing functional nasal surgery is important. OSA patients should be appropriately counseled in the preoperative period on their increased anesthetic risk. In OSA patients who are continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) intolerant, the role of drug-induced sleep endoscopy should be discussed with the patient, and depending on the surgeon's practice may prompt referral to a sleep specialist. Should multilevel airway surgery be indicated, it can safely be performed in most OSA patients. Surgeons should communicate with the anesthesiologist regarding an airway plan given this patient population's higher propensity for having a difficult airway. Given their increased risk of postoperative respiratory depression, extended recovery time should be given to these patients and the use of opioids as well as sedatives should be minimized. During surgery, one can consider using local nerve blocks to reduce postoperative pain and analgesic use. After surgery, clinicians can consider opioid alternatives such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Neuropathic agents, such as gabapentin, require further research in their indications for managing postoperative pain. CPAP is typically held for a period of time after functional rhinoplasty. The decision on when to restart CPAP should be individualized to the patient based on their comorbidities, OSA severity, and surgical maneuvers performed. More research would provide further guidance in this patient population to shape more specific recommendations regarding their perioperative and intraoperative course.

Recovery Benefit With Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Patients Receiving Rhinoplasty

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to evaluate the difference in recovery when comparing total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) to inhalational gas anesthesia in patients receiving rhinoplasty.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review.

SETTING

Postoperative anesthesia care unit (PACU).

METHODS

Patients who received a functional or cosmetic rhinoplasty at a single academic institution between April 2017 and November 2020 were included. Inhalational gas anesthesia was in the form of sevoflurane. Phase I recovery time, which was defined as the time it took a patient to reach ≥9/10 on the Aldrete scoring system was recorded, as well as the usage of pain medication in the PACU. The postoperative course and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were also collected.

RESULTS

Two hundred and two patients were identified with 149 (73.76%) who received TIVA and 53 (26.24%) who received sevoflurane. For the patients who received TIVA, the average recovery time was 101.44 minutes (standard deviation [SD]: 34.64) compared to an average recovery time of 121.09 minutes (SD: 50.19) for patients who received sevoflurane leading to a difference of 19.65 minutes (p = 0.002). Patients who received TIVA experienced less PONV (p = 0.001). There were no differences in the postoperative course including surgical or anesthesia complications, postoperative complications, hospital or Emergency Department admissions, or administration of pain medication (p > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

When utilizing TIVA over inhalational anesthesia, patients undergoing rhinoplasty had significantly increased benefits in terms of reduced phase I recovery times and decreased incidence of PONV. TIVA was demonstrated to be a safe and efficacious method of anesthesia for this patient population.

Allyship to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Otolaryngology: What We Can All Do

Purpose of review

To summarize the current literature on allyship, providing a historical perspective, concept analysis, and practical steps to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. This review also provides evidence-based tools to foster allyship and identifies potential pitfalls.

Recent findings

Allies in healthcare advocate for inclusive and equitable practices that benefit patients, coworkers, and learners. Allyship requires working in solidarity with individuals from underrepresented or historically marginalized groups to promote a sense of belonging and opportunity. New technologies present possibilities and perils in paving the pathway to diversity.

Summary

Unlocking the power of allyship requires that allies confront unconscious biases, engage in self-reflection, and act as effective partners. Using an allyship toolbox, allies can foster psychological safety in personal and professional spaces while avoiding missteps. Allyship incorporates goals, metrics, and transparent data reporting to promote accountability and to sustain improvements. Implementing these allyship strategies in solidarity holds promise for increasing diversity and inclusion in the specialty.

Outpatient Opioid Dispensing Patterns for SC Medicaid Children 1-36 Months Old

OBJECTIVES

We sought to identify the most common diagnostic categories linked to dispensed opioid prescriptions among children 1-36 months old and changes in patterns over the years 2000 to 2017.

METHODS

This study used South Carolina's Medicaid claims data of pediatric dispensed outpatient opioid prescriptions between 2000 and 2017. The major opioid-related diagnostic category (indication) for each prescription was identified using visit primary diagnoses and the Clinical Classification System (AHRQ-CCS) software. The variables of interest were the rate of opioid prescriptions per 1,000 visits for each diagnostic category and the relative percentage of opioid prescriptions assigned to each category compared to all categories.

RESULTS

Six major diagnostic categories were identified; Diseases of the respiratory system (RESP), Congenital anomalies (CONG), Injury (INJURY), Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (NEURO), Diseases of the digestive system (GI), and Diseases of the genitourinary system (GU). The overall rate of dispensed opioid prescriptions per category declined significantly for four diagnostic categories throughout the study period, RESP by 15.13, INJURY by 8.49, NEURO by 7.33, and GI by 5.93. Two categories increased during the same time, CONG (by 9.47) and GU (by 6.98). RESP was the most prevalent category linked to a dispensed opioid prescription within 2010-2012 (almost 25%) but CONG was the most prevalent by 2014 (17.77%).

CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE

Among Medicaid children 1-36 months old, annual dispensed opioid prescription rates declined for most major diagnostic categories (RESP, INJURY, NEURO, and GI). Future studies should explore alternatives to current opioid dispensing practices for GU and CONG cases.

Perioperative Management of Oral Antithrombotics in Dentistry and Oral Surgery: Part 2

Part 1 of "Perioperative Management of Oral Antithrombotics in Dentistry and Oral Surgery" covered the physiological process of hemostasis and the pharmacology of both traditional and novel oral antiplatelets and anticoagulants. Part 2 of this review discusses various factors that are considered when developing a perioperative management plan for patients on oral antithrombotic therapy in consultation with dental professionals and managing physicians. Additionally included are how thrombotic and thromboembolic risks are assessed as well as how patient- and procedure-specific bleeding risks are evaluated. Special attention is given to the bleeding risks associated with procedures encountered when providing sedation and general anesthesia within the office-based dental environment.

Multimodal Analgesia and Patient Education Reduce Postoperative Opioid Consumption in Otology

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to validate alternative pain management strategies that can reduce reliance on opioids for postoperative pain management in otology.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Single tertiary-care facility.

METHODS

Adult patients who underwent outpatient otologic surgery from September 2021 to July 2022 were randomized into treatment cohorts. The opioid monotherapy cohort received a standard opioid prescription. The multimodal analgesia cohort received the same opioid prescription, prescriptions for acetaminophen and naproxen, and additional pain management education with a flyer on discharge. All patients completed a questionnaire 1 week after surgery to evaluate opioid usage and pain scores.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients completed the study. The opioid monotherapy cohort (n = 42) and multimodal analgesia cohort (n = 44) were prescribed an average of 42.1 ± 20.4 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) and 38.4 ± 5.7 MME, respectively (p = 0.373). Four patients (9.52%) in the opioid monotherapy cohort required opioid refills compared to 1 patient (2.27%) in the multimodal analgesia cohort (p = 0.156). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the multimodal analgesia cohort consumed significantly fewer opioids on average than the opioid monotherapy cohort (11.9 ± 15.9 MME vs 22.8 ± 28.0 MME, respectively). There were no significant differences in postoperative rehospitalizations (p = 0.317) or Emergency Department visits (p = 0.150). Pain scores on the day of surgery, postoperative day (POD) 1, POD3, and POD7 were not significantly different between cohorts (p = 0.395, 0.896, 0.844, 0.765, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The addition of patient education, acetaminophen, and naproxen to postoperative opioid prescriptions significantly reduced opioid consumption without affecting pain scores, refill rates, or complication rates after otologic surgery.

Assessing Impact: Implementing an Opioid Prescription Protocol in Otolaryngology

OBJECTIVE

A lack of guidance for pain control after otolaryngology surgery can lead to overprescription of opioids. We implemented a postoperative site-specific opioid prescription protocol and analyzed the impact on opioid prescriptions.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study. A postoperative opioid prescription protocol was implemented within our otolaryngology department at a tertiary academic medical center on January 1, 2020. Retrospective chart review was completed for all patients undergoing otolaryngology surgery from November 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020 (2 months before and after initiation of intervention; n = 1070). The primary outcome was change in the amount of opioid prescribed for the preintervention and postintervention cohorts. Unplanned contact related to pain and opioid refills were tracked to assess pain control.

RESULTS

A total of 940 cases were included; adult and pediatric data were analyzed separately. There were 489 pediatric cases, 250 preintervention and 239 postintervention. There was a significant decrease in the amount of opioid prescribed per pediatric patient in the postintervention cohort (2.7 versus 0.32 morphine milligram equivalents, P = 0.02), and 99% of patients were not prescribed opioids at all. There was no significant change in unplanned contact, and no refills were required. There were 451 adult cases, 200 preintervention and 251 postintervention. There was no statistically significant decrease in the amount of opioid prescribed per adult patient (56.8 versus 51.7 morphine milligram equivalents, P = 0.23). There was no significant increase in unplanned contact or refills.

CONCLUSIONS

A postoperative opioid prescribing protocol can reduce the amount of opioid prescribed without increasing unplanned contact or opioid refills.

Nonopioid perioperative analgesia in head and neck cancer surgery: A systematic review

Objective

Management of postoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery is a complex issue, requiring a careful balance of analgesic properties and side effects. The objective of this review is to discuss the efficacy and safety of multimodal analgesia (MMA) for these patients.

Methods

Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov were systematically searched for all comparative studies of patients receiving MMA (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, anticonvulsants, local anesthetics, and corticosteroids) for head and neck cancer surgeries. The primary outcome was additional postoperative opioid usage, and secondary outcomes included subjective pain scores, complications, adverse effects, and 30-day outcomes.

Results

A total of five studies representing 592 patients (MMA, n = 275; non-MMA, n = 317) met inclusion criteria. The most commonly used agents were gabapentin, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen (n = 221), NSAIDs (n = 221), followed by corticosteroids (n = 35), dextromethorphan (n = 40), and local nerve block (n = 19). Four studies described a significant decrease in overall postoperative narcotic usage with two studies reporting a significant decrease in hospital time. Subjective pain scores widely varied with two studies reporting reduced pain at postoperative day 3. There were no differences in surgical outcomes, medical complications, adverse effects, or 30-day mortality and readmission rates.

Conclusion

MMA is an increasingly popular strategy that may reduce dependence on opioids for the treatment of postoperative pain. A variety of regimens and protocols are available for providers to utilize in the appropriate head and neck cancer patient.

Ibuprofen prescription following adult tonsillectomy reduces postoperative opioid use

BACKGROUND

Based on a 2018 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery survey, an average of 37 tablets of opioid medication, or about a week's worth of medication, were prescribed after adult tonsillectomy. Nearly 15% of patients will still be taking opioids one year after an initial weeklong prescription, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications have traditionally been avoided in adult tonsillectomy patients due to concern for increased bleeding risk from platelet dysfunction, despite little evidence supporting this claim. This study sought to demonstrate that ibuprofen prescriptions after tonsillectomy could be a safe and effective way to reduce postoperative opioid use.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing tonsillectomy with one surgeon over three years. Half of the patients received a prescription for postoperative opioid medications and were counseled against taking ibuprofen. The other half of patients were prescribed ibuprofen following surgery and only provided with opioid analgesia as a rescue medication. The New Mexico Prescription Monitoring System was used to verify opioid prescriptions. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine patients were included in analysis, with 53 in the first group that did not receive ibuprofen and 46 in the second group that did receive ibuprofen. There was no difference in the bleeding rate between the two groups. Significantly fewer patients in the ibuprofen group filled postoperative opioid prescriptions when compared to the group that did not receive ibuprofen (40% vs. 96.2%, p < 0.0001, OR = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Ibuprofen is a safe and effective analgesic following adult tonsillectomy and significantly reduces the proportion of patients who must fill a postoperative opioid prescription.

Implementation of a Standardized Perioperative Pain Management Protocol to Reduce Opioid Prescriptions in Otolaryngologic Surgery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of implementing a standardized multimodal perioperative pain management protocol in reducing opioid prescriptions following otolaryngologic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

County hospital otolaryngology practice.

METHODS

A perioperative pain management protocol was implemented in adults undergoing otolaryngologic surgery. This protocol included preoperative patient education and a postoperative multimodal pain regimen stratified by pain level: mild, intermediate, and high. Opioid prescriptions were compared between patient cohorts before and after protocol implementation. Patients in the pain protocol were surveyed regarding pain levels and opioid use.

RESULTS

We analyzed 210 patients (105 preprotocol and 105 postprotocol). Mean ± SD morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prescribed decreased from 132.5 ± 117.8 to 53.6 ± 63.9 (P < .05) following protocol implementation. Mean MMEs prescribed significantly decreased (P < .05) for each procedure pain tier: mild (107.4 to 40.5), intermediate (112.8 to 48.1), and high (240.4 to 105.0). Mean MMEs prescribed significantly decreased (P < .05) for each procedure type: endocrine (105.6 to 44.4), facial plastics (225.0 to 50.0), general (160.9 to 105.7), head and neck oncology (138.6 to 77.1), laryngology (53.8 to 12.5), otology (77.5 to 42.9), rhinology (142.2 to 44.4), and trauma (288.0 to 24.5). Protocol patients reported a mean 1-week postoperative pain score of 3.4, used opioids for a mean 3.1 days, and used only 39% of their prescribed opioids.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative counseling and standardization of a multimodal perioperative pain regimen for otolaryngology procedures can effectively lower amount of opioid prescriptions while maintaining low levels of postoperative pain.

Opioid Prescriptions Following Otologic Surgery: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine postoperative opioid-prescribing patterns following otologic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective population-based descriptive study.

SETTING

All hospitals in the Canadian province of Ontario.

METHODS

Of all patients with advanced ear surgery between July 1, 2012, and March 31, 2019, 7 cohorts were constructed: tympanoplasty with or without ossiculoplasty (n = 7812), atticotomy/limited mastoidectomy (n = 1371), mastoidectomy (n = 3717), semicircular canal occlusion (SCO; n = 179), stapedectomy (n = 2735), bone-implanted hearing aid insertion (n = 280), and cochlear implant (n = 2169). Prescriptions filled for narcotics postoperatively were calculated per morphine milligram equivalent (MME) opioid dose. Multivariable regression was used to determine predictors of higher opioid doses.

RESULTS

The mean ± SD MMEs prescribed were as follows: tympanoplasty with or without ossiculoplasty, 246.77 ± 1380.78; atticotomy/limited mastoidectomy, 283.32 ± 956.10; mastoidectomy, 280.56 ± 1018.50; SCO, 328.61 ± 1090.86; stapedectomy, 164.64 ± 657.18; bone-implanted hearing aid insertion, 326.11 ± 1054.66; and cochlear implant, 200.87 ± 639.93. SCO (odds ratio [OR], 1.69 [95% CI, 1.16-2.48]) and mastoidectomy (OR, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.36-1.66]) were associated with higher opioid doses than tympanoplasty-ossiculoplasty. Asthma (OR, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.12-1.38]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.12-1.47]), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.05-1.68]), diabetes (OR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.08-1.39]), and substance-related and addictive disorders (OR, 2.59 [95% CI, 1.67-4.00]) were associated with higher opioid doses prescribed. Overall MME prescribed by year demonstrates a sharp drop from 2017-2018 to 2018-2019.

CONCLUSION

This large comprehensive population study provides insight into the prescribing patterns following otologic surgery. The large amounts prescribed and substantial variation require further study to determine barriers that limit good opioid-prescribing stewardship in the postoperative period.

Long-Term Opioid Use in Post-Surgical Management of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify clinical and socioeconomic factors associated with long-term, post-surgical opioid use in the head and neck cancer population.

METHODS

A single center retrospective study was conducted including patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer between January 1, 2014 and July 1, 2019 who underwent primary surgical management. The primary outcome measure was continued opioid use 6 months after treatment completion. Both demographic and cancer-related variables were recorded to determine what factors were associated with prolonged opioid use. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-squared test for categorical variables and 2-sample t-test for continuous variables. Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 359 patients received primary surgical management. Forty-five patients (12.53%) continued to take opioids 6 months after treatment completion. Using univariate analysis, patients less than 65 years of age (P = .0126), adjuvant chemoradiation (n = 25, P < .001), and overall length of hospital stay (8.60 ± 8.58 days, P = .0274) were significantly associated with long term opioid use. Multivariate logistic regression showed that adjuvant chemoradiation (OR = 3.446, 95% CI [1.742, 6.820], P = .0004) and overall length of hospital stay (OR = 0.949, 95% CI [0.903, 0.997], P = .0373) to be significantly associated with opioid use 6 months after head and neck cancer treatment.

CONCLUSION

Long-term postoperative opioid use in head and neck cancer patients is significantly associated with adjuvant chemoradiation, and patients with longer length of hospital stay. Therefore, future research should focus on interventions to better manage opioid use during the acute treatment period to decrease long-term use.

Assessment of Opioid Use and Analgesic Requirements After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The opioid epidemic has generated interest in optimizing opioid prescribing after common surgeries. Recent studies have shown a broad range of analgesic prescription patterns following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Objective

To compare the efficacy of different analgesic regimens after ESS.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multi-institutional, nonblinded randomized clinical trial was conducted at 6 tertiary centers across the US and Canada and included participants who underwent ESS for acute or chronic rhinosinusitis. The study was conducted from March 2019 to March 2020, and the data were analyzed in November to December 2020.

Interventions

All participants received acetaminophen, 650 mg, as the first-line analgesic. From there, patients were randomized to either oxycodone rescue (oxycodone, 5 mg, as second-line therapy) or ibuprofen rescue (ibuprofen, 600 mg, as second-line therapy, with oxycodone, 5 mg, reserved for breakthrough pain).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Baseline characteristics and disease severity were collected at enrollment. Medication logs, pain scores, and epistaxis measures were collected until postoperative day 7. The primary outcome was the postoperative visual analog scale score for pain. Brief Pain Inventory Pain Severity and Pain Interference Scores were also collected.

Results

A total of 118 patients were randomized (62 [52.5%] oxycodone rescue, 56 [47.5%] ibuprofen rescue; mean [SD] age, 46.7 [16.3] years; 44 women [44.0%]; 83 White [83.0%], 7 Black [7.0%], and 7 Asian individuals [7.0%]). After exclusions for loss to follow-up and noncompliance, 51 remained in the oxycodone rescue group and 49 in the ibuprofen rescue group. The groups had similar demographic characteristics and disease severity. Thirty-two (63%) in the oxycodone rescue group had adequate pain management with acetaminophen only, while 19 (37%) consumed at least 1 oxycodone dose. In the ibuprofen rescue group, 18 (16%) required only acetaminophen, 28 (57%) used only acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and the remaining 13 (26%) consumed 1 or more oxycodone doses. The groups had similar average acetaminophen (9.69 vs 7.96 doses; difference, 1.73; 95% CI, -1.37 to 4.83) and oxycodone (1.89 vs 0.77 doses; difference, 1.13; 95% CI, -0.11 to 2.36) use. Both groups had similar postoperative visual analog scale scores. A subanalysis that compared opioids users with nonusers showed clinically significant lower pain scores in nonusers at multiple postoperative points.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, most patients who underwent ESS could be treated postoperatively using a nonopioid regimen of either acetaminophen alone or acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen as a second-line therapy did not reduce overall narcotic consumption, but the overall narcotic use was low in both groups.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03783702.

Multimodal Analgesia in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery is commonly treated with opioids, which are associated with considerable side effects. The objective of this study is to analyze the safety and efficacy of using multimodal analgesia (MMA) for patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov.

REVIEW METHODS

All studies comparing patients receiving MMA (gabapentin, corticosteroids, local anesthetic, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) vs patients receiving opioids for head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction were screened. The primary outcome was postoperative opioid usage. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, subjective pain scores, surgical/medical complications, adverse effects, and 30-day outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies representing 1253 patients (MMA, n = 594; non-MMA, n = 659) met inclusion criteria. Gabapentinoids were the most commonly used intervention (72.9%) followed by NSAIDs (44.6%), acetaminophen (44.3%), corticosteroids (25.1%), ketamine (7.2%), and nerve block (3.4%). Eight studies reported a significant decrease in postoperative opioid usage in the MMA groups. Subjective pain had wider variation, with most studies citing significant pain improvement. There were no differences in surgical outcomes, medical complications, adverse effects, or 30-day mortality and readmission rates.

CONCLUSION

With the rise of the opioid epidemic, MMA may play an important role in the treatment of postoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery. A growing body of literature demonstrates a variety of effective perioperative regimens.

Clinical Knowledge and Trends in Physicians' Prescribing of Opioids for New Onset Back Pain, 2009-2017

Importance

Opioid musculoskeletal pain overprescribing was widespread in the mid-2000s. The degree to which prescribing changed as awareness of the danger grew among physicians with different levels of clinical knowledge remains unstudied.

Objective

To compare the association of clinical knowledge with opioid prescribing from 2009 to 2011 when prescribing peaked nationally with 2015 to 2017 when guidelines shifted away from opioid prescribing.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study included 10 246 midcareer general internal medicine physicians in the United States who saw patients who were Medicare beneficiaries with Part D enrollment from 2009 to 2017.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Any opioid prescription and high dosage or long duration (HDLD) (>7 days or >50 daily morphine milligram equivalents) opioid prescriptions filled within 7 days of applicable visits for new low back pain concerns. Associations between opioid prescribing for new low back pain concerns during outpatient visits and clinical knowledge measured by prior year American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification examination performance were estimated using serial cross-sectional logit regressions. Regression covariates included yearly examination quartile (ie, knowledge quartile) interacted with 3-year group dummies (ie, early: 2009-2011; middle: 2012-2014; late: 2015-2017), state and year dummies, physician, practice, patient characteristics, and state opioid regulations.

Results

Of the 55 387 low back pain visits included in this study, 37 185 (67.1%) were visits with female patients, 41 978 (75.8%) were with White patients, and the mean (SE) age of patients was 76.2 (<0.01) years. The rate of opioid prescribing was 21.6% (11 978) for any opioid prescription and 17.6% (9759) for HDLD prescriptions. From 2009 to 2011, visits with physicians in the highest and lowest knowledge quartiles had similar adjusted opioid prescribing rates with a 0.5 (95% CI, -1.9 to 3.0) percentage point difference. By 2015 to 2017, visits with physicians in the highest knowledge quartile prescribed opioids less frequently that physicians in the lowest knowledge quartile (4.6 percentage point difference; 95% CI, -7.5 to -1.8 percentage points). Visits in which HDLD opioids were prescribed showed no difference in the early period but showed a difference in the late period when comparing physicians in the highest and lowest knowledge quartiles (early period: difference -0.1; 95% CI, -2.4 to 2.2 percentage points; late period difference: 4.8; 95% CI, -7.4 to -2.1 percentage points).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, when the standard of care shifted away from routine opioid prescribing, physicians who performed well on an ABIM examination were less likely to prescribe opioids for back pain than physicians who performed less well on the examination.

Is otologic surgery contributing to the opioid epidemic?

Background

The opioid epidemic is a significant public health crisis challenging the lives of North Americans. Interestingly, this problem does not exist to the same extent in Europe. Surgeons play a significant role in prescribing opioids, especially in the context of post-operative pain management. The aim of this study was to compare the post-surgical prescribing patterns of otologists comparing Canada and Austria.

Methods

An online questionnaire was sent to 33 Canadian and 32 Austrian surgeons, who perform otologic surgery on a regular basis. Surgeons were asked to answer some questions about their background as well as typical prescribing patterns for postoperative pain medication for different ear surgeries (cochlear implant, stapedotomy, tympanoplasty). In addition, surgeons were asked about the typical use of local anesthetics for pain control at the end of a procedure. Otologists gave an estimate how confident they were that their therapy and prescriptions provide sufficient pain control to their patients.

Results

Analysis of the returned questionnaires showed that opioids are more commonly prescribed in Canada than in Austria. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for postoperative pain more regularly after ear surgery in Austria, as opposed to Canada. Some of the prescribed drugs by European otologists are not available in North America. The use of local anesthetics at the end of surgery is not common in Austria. Surgeons´ confidence that the prescribed pain medication was sufficient to control postoperative symptoms was higher in the group not prescribing opioids than in the group that did routinely prescribe opioids.

Conclusion

Prescribing patterns differ substantially between the two evaluated countries. This data suggests an opportunity to reduce opioid prescriptions after otologic surgeries. Studies to evaluate pain after these operations as well as efficacy of analgesics following ear surgery are an important next step.

Graphical abstract

Patterns of dispensed opioids after tonsillectomy in children and adolescents in South Carolina, United States, 2010-2017

OBJECTIVES

Tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy) is a common pediatric surgical procedure requiring post-operative analgesia. Because of the respiratory depression effects of opioids, clinicians strive to limit the use of these drugs for analgesia post-tonsillectomy. The objective of this study was to identify demographic and medication use patterns predictive of persistent opioid dispensing (as a proxy for opioid use) to pediatric patients post-tonsillectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective cohort of South Carolina (USA) Medicaid-insured children and adolescents 0-18 years old without malignancy who had tonsillectomy in 2014-2017. We evaluated opioid dispensing pre-surgery and in the 30 days exposure period after hospital discharge. The main outcome, persistent opioid dispensing, was defined as any subject dispensed ≥1 opioid prescription 90-270 days after discharge. Group-based trajectory analyses described post-procedure opioid dispensing trajectories.

RESULTS

There were 11,578 subjects representing 12,063 tonsillectomy procedures. Few (3.5%) procedures were followed by persistent opioid dispensing. Any opioid dispensing during the exposure period was associated with an increased odds of persistent opioid dispensing status during the follow up period (OR 1.51 for 1-6 days of exposure and OR 1.65 for 7-30 days of opioid exposure), as was pre-procedure opioid dispensing, having >1 tonsillectomy procedure, and having complex chronic medical conditions. Group-based trajectory analyses identified 4 distinct patterns of post-discharge opioid dispensing.

CONCLUSIONS

Any opioid dispensing during the 30 days after tonsillectomy increased the odds of persistent opioid dispensing by > 50%. Multivariable and group-based trajectory analyses identified patient and procedure variables that correlate with persistent opioid dispensing, primarily driven by groups receiving pre-tonsillectomy opioids and a second group who experienced multiple episodes of tonsillectomy.

The Impact of MassPAT on Opioid Prescribing Patterns for Otolaryngology Surgeries

OBJECTIVE

Determine whether opioid prescriber patterns have changed for tonsillectomy, parotidectomy, and thyroidectomy after implementation of the Massachusetts Prescription Awareness Tool (MassPAT).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Single-center tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

Patients were included if they received tonsillectomy, parotidectomy, or thyroid surgery at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (Burlington, Massachusetts) between October 1, 2015, and October 1, 2019. Prescribing patterns were compared prior to implementation of MassPAT, October 1, 2015, to October 14, 2016, to postimplementation of MassPAT, October 15, 2016, to October 1, 2019. Quantity of opioids prescribed was described using total morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Data were analyzed using univariate analysis, multivariate analysis, and trend line using line of best fit.

RESULTS

A total of 737 subjects were included in the study. There was a downward trend in the quantity of opioids prescribed for all 3 surgeries during the study period. There was a significant difference in the quantity of opioids prescribed pre- and postimplementation of MassPAT for tonsillectomy (647.70 ± 218.50 MME vs 474.60 ± 185.90 MME, P < .001), parotidectomy (241.20 ± 57.66 MME vs 156.70 ± 72.99 MME, P < .001), and thyroidectomy (171.20 ± 93.77 MME vs 108.50 ± 63.84 MME, P < .001). There was also a decrease in the number of patients who did not receive opioids for thyroidectomy pre- and post-MassPAT (7.56% vs 24.14%).

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated that there is an association with state drug monitoring programs and decrease in the amount of opioids prescribed for acute postoperative pain control for common otolaryngology surgeries.

Changes in Single-Specialty Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Patterns in Response to Legislation: Single-Institution Analysis Over Time

OBJECTIVES

To determine changes in the prescriptions of postoperative opioids in response to Florida state legislation restricting the number of days for which these medications could be prescribed to 3 days in most circumstances or 7 days at provider discretion.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective review was performed for all patients undergoing 7 common outpatient otolaryngology surgical procedures.

SETTING

Single-institution academic center in Florida.

METHODS

Query of the state's online prescription drug monitoring program was used to compare prescription habits 3 months before and after the law and then again 1 year later.

RESULTS

A total of 561 patients were identified meeting criteria. The number of days that opioids were prescribed decreased significantly, from 6.42 to 4.48 to 3.03 days. There was a significant decrease in the proportion of patients receiving any postoperative opioid prescription, from 0.80 to 0.52 to 0.32. The total morphine milligram equivalents prescribed decreased from 28.4 before the law to 18.4 at 1 year after.

CONCLUSIONS

Legislative restrictions on the length of opioid prescriptions were associated with significant decreases in the proportion of patients receiving any opioids, the number of days that opioids were prescribed, and the total morphine milligram equivalents 3 months after the law went into effect, with even more dramatic changes at the 1-year time point. We opine that these changes are due to providers learning that many procedures do not require postoperative opioids and therefore increasingly considering and utilizing nonopioid alternatives in this setting.