Articles: opioid.
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Opioid prescribing varies widely, and prescribed opioid dosages for an individual can fluctuate over time. Patterns in daily opioid dosage among patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy have not been previously examined. This study uses a novel application of time-series cluster analysis to characterize and visualize daily opioid dosage trajectories and associated demographic characteristics of patients newly initiated on long-term opioid therapy. ⋯ Time-series cluster analysis identified 2 clusters for each of the 3 baseline dosage categories <150 MME and 3 clusters for the baseline dosage category ≥150 MME. One cluster in each baseline dosage category comprised opioid dosage trajectories with decreases in dosage at the end of the follow-up period (80.7%, 98.7%, 98.7%, and 99.0%, respectively), discontinuation (58.5%, 80.0%, 79.3%, and 81.7%, respectively), and rapid tapering (50.8%, 85.8%, 87.5%, and 92.9%, respectively). These findings indicate multiple clusters of patients newly initiated on long-term opioid therapy who experience discontinuation and rapid tapering and highlight potential areas for clinician training to advance evidence-based guideline-concordant opioid prescribing, including strategies to minimize sudden dosage changes, discontinuation, or rapid tapering, and the importance of shared decision-making.
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Multicenter Study
Opioid prescription and opioid disorders in burns: A large database analysis from 1990 to 2019.
Opioids remain crucial in the management of burn pain. A comprehensive analysis of opioid use in burns and their complications has not been investigated. ⋯ The risk of opioid-related disorders has nearly doubled since the year 2000 warranting precautions when prescribing pain medications to burn patients.
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Critical care medicine · Dec 2023
Effectiveness of Sublingual Buprenorphine for Pain Control in the ICU.
The objective of this study was to compare pain control and opioid consumption in critically ill patients who were treated with buprenorphine sublingual or oxycodone oral/enteral during ICU admission. ⋯ Buprenorphine sublingual is as effective as oxycodone oral/enteral with regard to pain control and opioid consumption in the ICU. Buprenorphine sublingual is an appropriate option for patients in the ICU who are unable to take oral/enteral medications.
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Journal of anesthesia · Dec 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialThe comparison of the analgesic efficacy of continuous paravertebral block alone compared with continuous paravertebral and intercostal nerve block for thoracotomy in adults: a randomized controlled trial.
The study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of two analgesic interventions, continuous paravertebral (PVB) nerve block alone with continuous paravertebral and intercostal nerve block (PVB/ICB) in patients undergoing thoracotomy. ⋯ Clinicaltrails.gov NCT04715880.
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Dec 2023
Pain management and opioid stewardship in adult cardiac surgery: Joint consensus report of the PeriOperative Quality Initiative and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Society.
Opioid-based anesthesia and analgesia is a traditional component of perioperative care for the cardiac surgery patient. Growing enthusiasm for Enhanced Recovery Programs (ERPs) coupled with evidence of potential harm associated with high-dose opioids suggests that we reconsider the role of opioids in cardiac surgery. ⋯ Based on the available literature and expert consensus, there is an opportunity to optimize anesthesia and analgesia for cardiac surgery patients. Although additional research is needed to establish specific strategies, core principles of pain management and opioid stewardship apply to the cardiac surgery population.