Impact of Opioid-Minimizing Pain Protocols After Burn Injury

Area of Science:

• Burn care and pain management
• Pharmacology and toxicology
• Clinical research methodology

Background:

• Opioid exposure in burn patients is a significant concern.
• Existing pain management protocols may lead to excessive opioid use.
• Minimizing opioid exposure is crucial for patient recovery and reducing adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a new opioid-minimizing pain protocol and moderate sedation for dressing changes in burn patients.
• To determine if these interventions reduce inpatient opioid exposure.
• To assess if the interventions impact acute pain scores.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study design was used, comparing patients before (Pre-group) and after (Post-group) protocol implementation.
• Data on demographics, burn characteristics, opioid exposure (total morphine milligram equivalents - MMEs), and pain scores were collected.
• Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon rank-sum, chi-square tests, and Bayesian generalized linear models.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in patient demographics or burn characteristics were observed between the groups.
• The Post-group showed significantly lower total MMEs and MMEs/day compared to the Pre-group.
• Average normalized pain scores remained consistent, indicating no increase in perceived pain.

Conclusions:

• Implementation of opioid-minimizing protocols for acute burn pain effectively reduces inpatient opioid exposure.
• These protocols achieve reduced opioid use without compromising acute pain management.
• The findings support the adoption of these strategies in burn care settings.