Does An ERAS Protocol Reduce Postoperative Opiate Prescribing in Plastic Surgery?

Area of Science:

• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Pain Management
• Surgical Protocols

Background:

• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are proven to reduce inpatient opioid consumption.
• Limited research exists on the impact of ERAS protocols on outpatient opioid prescribing patterns.
• This study investigates the effect of an ERAS protocol on postoperative opioid prescriptions in an outpatient plastic surgery setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an ERAS protocol in reducing outpatient opioid prescriptions.
• To assess the impact of ERAS on opioid use in plastic and reconstructive surgery patients.
• To determine if the reduction in opioid prescriptions is sustained over time.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a statewide controlled substance prescription monitoring database.
• Analysis of prescribing patterns of a single academic plastic surgeon before and after ERAS protocol implementation.
• Comparison of opioid prescription data across pre-ERAS, immediate post-ERAS, and sustained post-ERAS periods.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in outpatient opioid prescriptions was observed following ERAS protocol implementation.
• The decrease in prescribed opioid quantities was sustained in the follow-up period.
• ERAS protocols demonstrated effectiveness in reducing opioid prescriptions for various plastic surgery procedures.

Conclusions:

• ERAS protocols are effective in decreasing outpatient opioid prescriptions for plastic surgery.
• Patient and physician education are crucial for the successful implementation and sustained effectiveness of ERAS protocols.
• The findings support the broader adoption of ERAS protocols to manage postoperative pain and reduce opioid reliance.