Opioid Overprescribing and Procedure-Specific Opioid Consumption Patterns for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery...

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Opioid prescribing practices are a significant factor in misuse, dependency, and diversion.
• There is a lack of comprehensive, quantitative, evidence-based guidelines for opioid prescribing in plastic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine procedure-specific opioid consumption patterns in plastic surgery patients.
• To provide data that can help plastic surgery providers reduce opioid waste.
• To assess patient practices regarding opioid storage and disposal.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 479 plastic surgery patients across 23 procedure categories.
• Analysis of opioid prescribing patterns and patient-reported opioid use at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.

Main Results:

• Opioid overprescribing was common, with an average excess of 13 pills per patient, resulting in 52% of prescribed opioid pills being unused.
• Opioid consumption varied by procedure, ranging from 4 to 37 pills.
• Patients with a history of preoperative opioid use were significantly more likely to be using opioids at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.
• Most patients did not store opioids securely or dispose of them properly.

Conclusions:

• Opioid overprescribing is prevalent in plastic surgery.
• Procedure-specific consumption data can guide efforts to reduce opioid waste.
• Inadequate patient education on safe opioid storage and disposal necessitates targeted interventions.