Study Finds 31% Use No Opioids After Surgery

https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/pain-information-center/study-finds-31-use-no-opioids-after-surgery/article/760164/

HealthDay News — Almost 63% of patients did not use opioids after having an elective procedure, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Surgical Association, held from April 19 to 21 in Phoenix.

Cornelius A. Thiels, DO, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues conducted a prospective survey of patients to investigate postoperative opioid use. In total, 2550 patients undergoing 25 elective procedures were asked to complete a 29-question telephone interview survey 21 to 35 days after being discharged; 1907 patients completed the survey.

The researchers found that 92.2% of patients received discharge opioids. These were converted into oral morphine equivalents (OMEs). After discharge, a median of 44 OMEs were consumed. On average, 62.7% of prescribed opioids were unused. Thirty-one percent of patients used no opioids, and 52.3% required <50 OMEs. The refill rates varied from 1.7 to 71.4% for laparoscopic inguinal hernia and lumbar fusion, respectively. Most patients (90.2%) were satisfied with their post-discharge pain control. More than one-quarter (28.2%) reported being prescribed too many opioids, while 8.3% reported not being prescribed enough. Remaining opioids were disposed of by only 7.5% of patients.

“This research provides a road map for physicians and surgical departments,” a coauthor said in a statement. “It shows there are certain surgeries and types of patients who are likely receiving significantly more opioids than needed.”

7 Responses

  1. The people in MN has no longer have a great love for the Mayo clinic (which is sad because I use to live next to the Mayo bothers grandson and great greadson when I child). It has turned in to a corporate Fiasco and no longer even takes Medicaid or Medicare in Minnesota. The people in MN did a lot to help the Mayo clinic have a far reach by helping provide tax free benefits and so on and use to be a non-profit organzation. Well not anymore. It is all about money and while they maybe good for certain diseases, chronic ones seem to not be of much importance to them.

    • I went to mayo,,,they never even tested my lipase levels or check anything w/my pancreas or gallbladder..Threw out ekgs for ,”artifact,”;; when reality was arrhythmia’s,,Yea Mayo sucks,,,big time,,maryw

  2. 31 percent of patients did not need pain medication? What of the 69 percent that did need post op medication, are we to be disregareded?

  3. TRY a spinal vertebra fusion…..without post op opioid medication pain management. I truly though death would be more acceptable than the pain I endured for 8 months after it. Problem. The surgery did not achieve the “stated: result of surgery, furthermore the pain from damaged nerves, has NEVER stopped.

    • I hear ya, Hayden Hamby, Jr! Death would’ve been acceptable vs. the pain I endured…that was four years ago and now the damage has progressed. I’m afraid to get the repair surgery because I fear it’ll be SO much worse!!!

  4. Again Andrew Kolodny territory,,and again was this by ,”choose,” I doubt it,,,Furthermore,,I’ve been to the Mayo Clinic at Rochestor ,,,its corrupt,,,Meaning,,,we spent a lot of money their,,not 1 ultrasound was done,,not 1 lipase test was done and my cardiac arrhythmia were toss in the garbage because it did not meet the standard pqrst rhythm,,Those exact same arrhythmias were thee ones I got 17 cardiac ablations for 1 year later,,They will definitely lie for other Doctors up there ,,,for I was just subjected to that by one of those surgeon that come out of that exact Mayo,,Soo,,,jmo,,this study most likely is corrupted,propaganda,,thus a lie,,maryw

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