A Radical Proposition: Opioid-sparing Prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy has largely become a procedure requiring a single day in the hospital with improving convalescence. Pre-operative counseling on perioperatively expectations including a discussion of pain management using non-opioid alternatives is critical to further improve postoperative recovery and limit narcotic use. Preoperative regional pain blocks and intraoperative multi-modal analgesia, and scheduled non-opioid pain medication alternatives can greatly limit opioid exposure perioperatively. Liberal use of acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories upon discharge may eliminate the need for narcotic prescriptions at the time of discharge.