Recommendations for Managing Opioid-Tolerant Surgical Patients within Enhanced Recovery Pathways

One of the consequences of the opioid epidemic is an increase in the number of opioid-tolerant patients. These patients are at higher risk for readmission and longer hospital stays following surgery. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways can be used as a framework for providing high-quality comprehensive care to patient population. It is estimated that as many as 15% of all surgery patients in the USA are receiving opioids going into surgery. The number of patients on medication maintenance therapy with long-acting opioids such as methadone or partial mu receptor agonists like buprenorphine is rising, which poses a challenge for perioperative healthcare providers.

Preoperative opioid tolerance is an independent predictor for increased length of hospital stays, high costs, and increased readmission rates following surgery. Given the recent trends, it is likely that more opioid-tolerant patients will require surgery in near future. Enhanced recovery programs can be used to provide a framework for high-quality care to opioid-tolerant patients throughout all phases of the perioperative process. To improve the quality of care of opioid-tolerant patients, we present five general recommendations for clinicians to consider and possibly incorporate into ERAS programs and care protocols. Recommendations include the following: opioid-tolerant patients should not be excluded from ERAS programs; opioid-tolerant patients should be identified preoperatively; programs should establish standard practices for patients on medication maintenance therapy and buprenorphine; opioid-tolerant patients should receive multimodal analgesia perioperatively; and opioid-tolerant patients should receive coordinated follow up after surgery.