A comprehensive model for pain management in patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery: a prospective...

Postoperative opioid prescription patterns play a key role in driving the opioid epidemic. A comprehensive system toward pain management in surgical patients is necessary to minimize overall opioid consumption.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a pain management model in patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery by measuring postdischarge narcotic use in morphine milligram equivalents.

This is a prospective clinical practice study that included women undergoing inpatient pelvic reconstructive surgery from December 2018 to June 2019 with overnight stay after surgery. As a routine protocol, all the patients followed an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol that included a preoperative multimodal pain regimen. Brief Pain Inventory surveys were collected preoperatively and on postoperative day 1. Brief pain inventory and activities assessment scale scores were collected at postoperative week 1 and postoperative weeks 4-6 after surgery. Patients were discharged with 15 tablets of an oral narcotic using an electronic prescription for controlled substances software platform, which is mandated in the state of Connecticut for all controlled substances, prescriptions, and refills. Patients were called at postoperative week 1 and postoperative weeks 4-6 to answer questions regarding their pain, the number of remaining narcotic tablets, and patient satisfaction regarding pain management. Patient electronic medical records and the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System were reviewed to determine whether patients received narcotic refills. Primary outcome was postdischarge narcotic use measured in morphine milligram equivalents. Secondary outcomes evaluated refill rate, brief pain inventory and activities assessment scale scores, and patient satisfaction with pain management. Descriptive statistics were described as mean and standard deviation and median and interquartile range. Bivariate comparisons used Spearman's rho (ρ) with α=0.05.

A total 113 patients were enrolled; the median (interquartile range) morphine milligram equivalent prescribed (including refills) was 112.5 (112.5-112.5). The median postdischarge narcotic use was 24.0 (0-82.5) morphine milligram equivalent, which is equivalent to fewer than 4 oxycodone (5 mg) tablets. About 75% of our participants required fewer than 11 oxycodone tablets. The median unused morphine milligram equivalent was 90.0 (45-112.5). 81.4% (92/113), and 83.2% (94/113) of patients at postoperative week 1 and postoperative weeks 4-6, respectively, reported being satisfied or extremely satisfied with their postdischarge pain control. About 88.5% (100/113) of patients felt that the number of opioids they were discharged with was sufficient for their pain needs at the postoperative 1 and postoperative weeks 4-6 time points. At postoperative weeks 4-6, 19.5% of patients said that they filled the narcotic prescription but did not use any of the pills. The overall refill rate was 10.6% (12/113). All patients who needed a refill described the refill process as easy. In-hospital narcotic use was not predictive of postdischarge narcotic use (ρ0.065, P=.495). Patients reported median brief pain inventory scores for "average pain" of 0 (no pain) at postoperative week 1 and postoperative weeks 4-6; however, the scores did not clinically correlate with postdischarge narcotic use. Activities assessment scale scores were not correlated with postdischarge narcotic use.

Most patients after pelvic reconstructive surgery used fewer than 11 oxycodone (5 mg) tablets, averaging less than 4 tablets, with a third of patients not requiring any opioids. Pain and activities scores did not correlate with narcotic use. A minimal number of opioids can be prescribed because the secure electronic prescribing system allows for convenient electronic refill if required. Our practical and comprehensive pre- and postoperative protocol for pain management minimizes opioid consumption in addition to maximizing patient satisfaction.