Articles: opioid.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2021
Risk of chronic opioid use after simultaneous versus staged bilateral knee arthroplasty.
Several studies have identified excess risk associated with undergoing simultaneous (compared with unilateral or staged) bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA). However, few have addressed subsequent chronic opioid use. Given the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with prolonged opioid use, we evaluated the incidence of postoperative chronic opioid use following simultaneous versus staged BTKA, based on the different timing strategies of staged procedures. ⋯ Although patients undergoing staged BTKA <6 months apart were prescribed greater quantities of opioids on discharge, there was no significant difference in the odds of postoperative chronic opioid use compared with simultaneous BTKA. The timing of BTKA procedures does not appear to influence the likelihood of postoperative chronic opioid dependence.
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Multicenter Study
The effects of a morphine shortage on emergency department pain control.
In 2018, due to a national morphine shortage, our two study emergency departments (EDs) were unable to administer intravenous (IV) morphine for over six months. We evaluated the effects of this shortage on analgesia and patient disposition. ⋯ Removing IV morphine in the ED, without a compensatory rise in alternative opioids, does not appear to significantly impact analgesia or disposition. These data favor a more limited opioid use strategy in the ED.
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Telerehabilitation for pain management uses communication technology to minimize geographic barriers. Access to such technology has proven critically important during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic and has been useful for patients with chronic pain disorders unable to travel. ⋯ The goals of care are unchanged from an in-person patient-provider experience. Telerehabilitation can be successfully implemented in pain management with appropriate consideration for staging an evaluation, a structured approach to the visit, and application of standard clinical metrics.