Pediatric blood & cancer
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Pediatric blood & cancer · May 2017
Opioid prescription practices at discharge and 30-day returns in children with sickle cell disease and pain.
Acute pain episodes in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) represent a leading cause of readmissions. We examined prescription practices at the time of discharge in children with SCD presenting with acute pain to determine their impact on 30-day emergency department (ED) revisits and readmissions. ⋯ Variability exists in opioid prescription practices after discharge in children with SCD and pain episodes. Prescription of NSAIDs only, without opioids, was an independent predictor of higher 30-day ED revisits. Formalized studies to better understand factors that influence returns, including outpatient opioid management, are warranted in this population.