Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2025
A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Pain Medication Disposal Rates After Pediatric Surgery
Justin J Ray1, Taylor L Shackleford2, Diane Bronikowski3
1Departments of Orthopedics and justin.ray1@hsc.wvu.edu.
Insights
Most pediatric surgery patients receive too many opioid pain medications. Over 60% of leftover prescriptions were not properly disposed of within 90 days, indicating a need for better disposal practices.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pain Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Postoperative pain management in children often involves prescription opioids.
- Concerns exist regarding the appropriate usage and disposal of these medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate prescription opioid usage patterns after pediatric surgery.
- To determine the rates and methods of leftover opioid disposal.
- To assess medication management at 60-90 days postoperatively.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (<18 years) prescribed opioids post-surgery (April 2017-June 2018).
- Follow-up phone survey conducted 60-90 days postoperatively to assess usage and disposal.
Main Results:
- 79.3% of patients did not use all prescribed opioids.
- Of those with leftovers, 61.3% disposed of them via flushing, trash, or take-back centers.
- 38.3% still had leftover medication at 60-90 days post-survey.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric patients are frequently overprescribed opioid pain medication after surgery.
- Disposal rates for leftover pediatric surgical pain medication remain suboptimal (>60% at 60-90 days).
- A significant supply of pain medication is often unused, highlighting potential for overprescription and improper disposal.
Objectives:
To investigate prescription opiate usage, disposal rates, and methods of disposal after pediatric surgery.
Methods:
This was a retrospective chart review of patients <18 years of age who underwent a surgical procedure at our institution and were given a postoperative opiate prescription between April 2017 and June 2018. A follow-up phone survey was conducted between 60 and 90 days postoperatively to ask about prescription opiate usage and disposal.
Results:
A total of 290 patients with a mean age of 9.0 ± 4.7 years (62.8% male) met inclusion criteria. Sixty patients (20.7%) reported using all of their prescription opiate medication, whereas 230 patients (79.3%) did not use all of their pain medication. Of these 230 patients, 141 (61.3%) disposed of their leftover prescription opiates via flushing (56.4%), trash (28.6%), or take-back center (15.0%). At the time of phone survey between 60 and 90 days postoperatively, 88 patients (38.3%) still had leftover pain medication. By 7 days postoperatively, 234 of 290 patients (80.7%) had taken their last prescription opioid.
Conclusions:
In our study, 79.3% of patients were overprescribed opiate pain medication after pediatric surgery. Disposal rates at 60 to 90 days for leftover pain medication after pediatric surgery was just >60%. Pediatric patients are often overprescribed prescription opiates after surgery and typically only require a one-week supply of pain medication.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:02Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
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...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism