Opioid exit plans for tapering postoperative pain control in noncancer patients: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

A growing number of countries have reported sharp increases in the use and harm of opioid analgesics. High rates of new opioid initiation are observed in postoperative patients. In response, various tertiary care institutions have developed opioid exit plans (OEPs) to curb potential opioid-related harm.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were systematically searched to identify, summarize, and compare the interventional elements of OEPs for postoperative patient populations published from January 1, 2000, to June 4, 2024. Two researchers independently screened the articles for eligibility following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, extracted the data, and assessed the study quality and risk of bias. Data synthesis was performed for study characteristics, intervention details, efficacy, and development.

RESULTS

A total of 2,585 articles were screened, eight of which met the eligibility criteria. All studies were conducted in North America and focused on orthopedic surgery patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty (n = 5) or neurosurgery (n = 3). Most studies (n = 7) included a pre-post (n = 4) or randomized clinical design (n = 3). Three studies were of good quality, and none had a low risk of bias. The interventions varied and ranged from educational sessions (n = 1) to individualized tapering protocols (n = 4) or a combination of the two (n = 2). Key elements were instructions on how to anticipate patients' postoperative need for opioid analgesics and tapering strategies based on 24-h predischarge opioid consumption. Six studies included efficacy as an endpoint in their analysis, of which four assessed statistical significance, with all four identifying that the OEPs were successful in reducing postoperative opioid use.

CONCLUSION

Despite differences in design and implementation, the identified OEPs suggest that they are efficacious in reducing outpatient opioid consumption. They provide a robust estimate of postoperative analgesic requirements and a rationale for tapering duration and rate. However, more rigorous studies are needed to evaluate their real-world effectiveness.

Evaluation of Policies Limiting Opioid Exposure on Opioid Prescribing and Patient Pain in Opioid-Naive Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery in a Large American Health System

OBJECTIVES

Overprescribing to opioid-naive surgical patients substantially contributes to opioid use disorders, which have become increasingly prevalent. Opioid stewardship programs (OSPs) within healthcare settings provide an avenue for introducing interventions to regulate prescribing. This study examined the association of OSP policies limiting exposure on changes in surgery-related opioid prescriptions and patient pain.

METHODS

We evaluated policies implemented by an OSP in a large American healthcare system between 2016 and 2018: nonopioid medication during surgery, decrease of available opioid dosage vials in operating rooms, standardization of opioid in-patient practices through electronic health record alerts, and limit to postsurgery opioid supply. Generalized linear mixed effects models examined the association of interventions with outcome changes in 9262 opioid-naive patients undergoing elective surgery. Outcomes were discharge pain, morphine milligram equivalent in the first prescription postsurgery, and opioid prescription refills.

RESULTS

Decreases in all prescription outcomes and discharge pain were observed following onset of OSP interventions ( P 's < 0.001). Among individual policies, standardization of in-patient prescribing practices was associated with the strongest decrease in prescribed morphine milligram equivalent. Importantly, there was no evidence of an increase in discharge pain related to any intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

This study promotes the potential of OSP formation and policies to reduce opioid prescribing without compromising patient pain. The most effective policy, standardization of in-patient prescribing practices through alerts, suggests that reminding prescribers to re-evaluate the patient's need is effective in changing behavior. The findings offer considerations for OSP formation and policy implementation across health systems to improve quality and safety in opioid prescribing.

Opioid use disorder in anaesthesia and intensive care: Prevention, diagnosis and management

Opioid misuse is common, as is opioid agonist treatment of opioid dependence. Almost 3% of Australians and over 3.5% of those living in New Zealand report misuse of analgesics. Over 50,000 Australians receive opioid agonist treatment with methadone or buprenorphine for management of severe opioid use disorder.The perioperative period is an opportunity to identify pre-existing opioid misuse, and to introduce interventions to reduce the risk of development of opioid use disorder. Challenges of acute perioperative pain management or intensive care management of patients receiving opioid agonist treatment include opioid tolerance and ongoing prescribing of methadone or buprenorphine. There has been some ambiguity about the optimal perioperative management of buprenorphine, a partial agonist at the mu receptor.In this article, a framework to identify emerging opioid misuse problems, identify risk of overdose and to manage the opioid-dependent patient on opioid agonist treatment perioperatively or in the intensive care unit is provided. Diagnostic criteria and risk stratification criteria are presented. Management strategies include trauma-informed care, care planning and care coordination with community practitioners and opioid agonist treatment providers. Continuing methadone or buprenorphine perioperatively with additional opioid and non-opioid analgesia is generally recommended. Increased opioid agonist treatment doses may be required on discharge. An algorithm for decisions about opioid agonist treatment management in the intensive care unit based on the risks of opioid withdrawal and toxicity is considered. Strategies for managing the opioid-dependent patient who is not in treatment are also discussed.

Opioid medicines management in primary care settings: A scoping review of quantitative studies of pharmacist activities

To undertake a scoping review of pharmacist activities in opioid medicines management in primary care settings, including those developed or led by pharmacists, or in which pharmacists were members of broader multidisciplinary teams, and to collate the activities, models of care and settings, and reported outcomes. The bibliographic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, CINAHL, SCOPUS and Web of Science were searched. Studies with quantitative evaluation and published in English were eligible. Participants were patients with any pain category or an opioid use disorder, and healthcare providers. Studies originating in hospitals or involving supply functions were not included. Screening of literature and data charting of results were undertaken by two researchers. The 51 studies included in the scoping review occurred in primary care settings collated into four categories: general practice or primary care clinics, healthcare organisations, community pharmacies and outreach services. Studies were primarily of opioid use in chronic, noncancer pain. Other indications were opioid use disorder, cancer and dental pain. Pharmacist activities targeted risk mitigation, patient and provider education and broader, strategic approaches. Patient-related outcomes included reduced opioid load, improved functionality and symptom management, enhanced access to services and medication-assisted treatments, and engagement in risk-mitigation strategies. Behaviour change of providers was demonstrated. The review has identified the significant contribution that pharmacists working in primary care settings can make to minimise harm from opioids. Strategies implemented in isolation have the potential to further reduce adverse clinical outcomes with greater collaboration and coordination, such as opioid stewardship.