Opioid Prescription Among Sinus Surgeons

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pain Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Opioid misuse and diversion fuel the U.S. opioid crisis.
• Understanding specialty- and procedure-specific prescribing trends is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze national trends in opioid prescribing by sinus surgeons.
• To identify factors influencing opioid prescription variations in functional endoscopic sinus surgery and balloon dilation procedures.

Main Methods:

• Identified high-volume sinus surgeons via Medicare data (2013-2015).
• Cross-referenced surgeon data with Medicare Part D beneficiary prescriptions.
• Collected data on prescription numbers, lengths, and surgeon demographics.

Main Results:

• 570 surgeons issued 21,042 opioid prescriptions (avg. 5.4 days) in 2015.
• Higher prescription volume correlated with longer prescription durations (P<.01).
• Female surgeons, those in the South, and non-fellowship-trained surgeons showed distinct prescribing patterns.

Conclusions:

• Most sinus surgeons exceed 25 annual opioid prescriptions, with higher volumes linked to longer durations.
• A 5-day opioid prescription limit may have minimal impact on perioperative diversion.
• Standardized guidelines are needed to clarify opioid prescribing indications for sinus surgeons.