Factors associated with opioid use after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pain Management
• Opioid Stewardship

Background:

• The opioid epidemic necessitates responsible prescribing of postoperative pain medications.
• Understanding factors influencing opioid use after surgery is essential for effective pain management and addiction prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify clinical factors associated with opioid consumption following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzed medical records of 136 patients who underwent FESS.
• Opioid usage was quantified at the first postoperative visit.
• Univariate and multivariable analyses identified predictors of opioid use, excluding patients with prior opioid use.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients (78%) used five or fewer opioid tablets in the first postoperative week.
• Younger age (OR 0.96) and concurrent septoplasty (OR 4.84) were significantly associated with higher opioid usage (>5 tablets).
• Factors like gender, extent of surgery, revision status, polyp presence, and cystic fibrosis did not show significant variation in opioid use.

Conclusions:

• Most patients undergoing FESS do not require substantial opioid pain relief postoperatively.
• Younger age and the performance of septoplasty are key factors predicting increased opioid consumption.
• Identifying these predictors aids surgeons in optimizing opioid prescribing and patient counseling.