Analgesic Use Following Bilateral Breast Reduction.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Public Health

Background:

• The opioid epidemic is a significant public health crisis, with prescription opioids contributing to a substantial number of deaths and opioid dependence cases.
• Quantifying postoperative narcotic pain medication needs is crucial, yet studies in this area, particularly for common plastic surgery procedures, are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify analgesic usage after bilateral breast reduction surgery.
• To assess patient satisfaction with pain control following this common plastic surgery procedure.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, observational study involving 40 patients undergoing bilateral breast reduction.
• Patients were contacted on postoperative days 3 and 7 to report analgesic use, dosage, frequency, and satisfaction.
• Exclusion criteria included chronic narcotic use, surgical complications, and inability to be reached.

Main Results:

• The median number of narcotic tablets used was 6, with 80% using 10 or fewer.
• By postoperative day 3, 50% of patients used only nonnarcotic analgesia.
• Patient satisfaction with pain control was high (95%), with underutilization of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Conclusions:

• Prescription quantities for breast reduction surgery often exceed patient needs, suggesting overprescribing.
• A multimodal approach combining acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and expectation management is recommended for optimal pain control.
• Most patients are satisfied with pain management, utilizing fewer than 10 narcotic tablets post-surgery.