Opioid Use after Pediatric Urologic Surgery: Is It Really Needed?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Urology
• Pain Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Post-operative pain management in pediatric urologic surgery often involves opioids.
• There is a need to identify factors influencing opioid use and strategies to reduce it.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify factors associated with opioid use after pediatric urologic surgery.
• Educate healthcare providers and patients on reducing post-operative opioid use.
• Assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of patient charts and surveys was conducted.
• Demographic factors were compared between opioid users and non-users.
• Internal educational interventions were implemented midway through the study to reduce opioid prescribing.

Main Results:

• 1001 pediatric patients were included (mean age 5 years, 96% male).
• Factors associated with not using opioids included younger age (less than 3 years) and specific procedures (penile, endoscopic).
• Opioid prescriptions decreased from 61% to 34%, and opioid use decreased from 55% to 28% between 2018 and 2019.

Conclusions:

• Many pediatric patients undergoing urologic surgery do not require opioid prescriptions.
• Internal review of opioid prescribing practices and targeted education can significantly reduce opioid use.