Otologic opioid usage and pain control in the postoperative period: An observational prospective study.

Authors

• Matthew Stewart
• Joann Butkus
• Eric Mastrolonardo
• Raphael Banoub
• Tingting Zhan
• Sophia Dang
• David Cognetti
• Rebecca Chiffer
• Thomas Willcox

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

PURPOSE: Evaluate opioid prescribing patterns, opioid consumption, and patient pain patterns following otologic surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were included if they were ≥18 years old and received otologic surgery between November 2019 and August 2020. Patients were provided a survey which included a visual analog scale for recording their pain postoperatively and the amount of opioid they had remaining. Patients who did not complete all portions of the survey were excluded.

RESULTS: Ninety-one patients completed the post-operative questionnaire. Collectively, patients were prescribed 5797 morphine milligram equivalents and used 3092: approximately 47% went unused. Of patients receiving a transcanal incision (n = 28/91, 31%), 70% went unused, whereas patients receiving a postauricular incision (n = 57/91, 63%), 38% went unutilized. The utilization difference between transcanal and postauricular cohorts was significant (p = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, patients who received a postauricular incision had 60% more opioid usage (p <  0.001), whereas those with a transcanal incision had an average reduction of 40% in opioid usage (p <  0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: A significant amount of opioid medication went unused in this study. Patients with postauricular incisions had significantly increased opioid utilization as compared to those with transcanal incisions. Otologists may be able to successfully manage pain in the postoperative period with a reduced opioid prescription multimodal analgesia and increased patient education. Further study is needed to support this suggestion.

Volume

43

Issue

1

First Page

103191

Last Page

103191

ISSN

1532-818X

Published In/Presented At

Stewart, M., Butkus, J., Mastrolonardo, E., Banoub, R., Zhan, T., Dang, S., Cognetti, D., Chiffer, R., & Willcox, T. (2022). Otologic opioid usage and pain control in the postoperative period: An observational prospective study. American journal of otolaryngology, 43(1), 103191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103191

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

34487997

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article