Opioid Prescribing and Use After Pediatric Umbilical Hernia Repair

Matthew L Lee1, Lauren B Camp1,2, Mehul V Raval3

  • 14285 Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.

The American Surgeon
|September 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Physician education on opioid stewardship significantly reduced opioid prescribing and filled prescriptions for pediatric umbilical hernia repair. This approach improved pain control without increasing adverse events.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pain Management
  • Opioid Stewardship

Background:

  • Opioid overuse is a significant concern in both pediatric and adult populations.
  • Physician education can enhance appropriate opioid prescribing and patient guidance.
  • This study evaluated opioid prescribing and use for pediatric umbilical hernia repair before and after surgeon education.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of surgeon education on opioid prescribing patterns for pediatric umbilical hernia repair.
  • To evaluate patient prescription filling behaviors and parent-reported pain control post-education.
  • To determine if education influences adverse events related to opioid use.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis of pediatric patients undergoing umbilical hernia repair.
  • Comparison of prescribing practices 6 months before and after an educational intervention on opioid use.
  • Assessment of prescription fills, medication use, pain control effectiveness, and adverse events.

Main Results:

  • Opioid prescription rates decreased from 98.7% to 61.6% post-education (P < .0001).
  • Nonopioid prescriptions increased (P = .0063), and filled opioid prescriptions decreased (P = .0296).
  • The post-education group reported good pain control with no increase in adverse events.

Conclusions:

  • Surgeon education effectively improves opioid prescribing and stewardship in pediatric surgery.
  • Educational interventions can reduce opioid use without compromising patient pain control or outcomes.
  • This strategy addresses the opioid epidemic by promoting safer pain management practices.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
754
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
649
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents01:17

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...
502
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
1.3K
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs01:02

Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs

Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
1.1K
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
135