Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2022
Leftover Opioid Analgesics and Disposal Following Ambulatory Pediatric Surgeries in the Context of a Restrictive Opioid-Prescribing Policy.
Opioid analgesics are commonly prescribed for postoperative analgesia following pediatric surgery and often result in leftover opioid analgesics in the home. To reduce the volume of leftover opioids and overall community opioid burden, the State of Tennessee enacted a policy to reduce initial opioid prescribing to a 3-day supply for most acute pain incidents. We aimed to evaluate the extent of leftover opioid analgesics following pediatric ambulatory surgeries in the context of a state-mandated restrictive opioid-prescribing policy. We also aimed to evaluate opioid disposal rates, methods of disposal, and reasons for nondisposal. ⋯ Despite Tennessee's policy aimed at reducing leftover opioids, a significant proportion of prescribed opioids were left over following pediatric ambulatory surgeries. A majority of parents did not engage in safe opioid disposal practices. Given the safety risks related to leftover opioids in the home, further interventions to improve disposal rates and tailor opioid prescribing are warranted after pediatric surgery.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jan 2022
Pro-Con Debate: Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays Should Replace Fixed Ratio Massive Transfusion Protocols in Trauma.
Major trauma patients at risk of traumatic coagulopathy are commonly treated with early clotting factor replacement to maintain hemostasis and prevent microvascular bleeding. In the United States, trauma transfusions are often dosed by empiric, low-ratio massive transfusion protocols, which pair plasma and platelets in some ratio relative to the red cells, such as the "1:1:1" combination of 1 units of red cells, 1 unit of plasma, and 1 donor's worth of pooled platelets. ⋯ VHAs are used at many centers to better target hemostatic therapies in trauma. This Pro/Con section will address whether VHA guidance should replace empiric fixed ratio protocols in major trauma.