An anti-inflammatory bundle may help avoid opioids for low-risk outpatient procedures

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Pharmacology
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Over half of drug overdose deaths are linked to opioids.
• Opioid alternatives are being explored to address the opioid epidemic.
• Efficacy of opioid alternatives for acute postoperative pain remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory bundle for acute postoperative pain.
• To assess opioid usage in patients undergoing low-risk outpatient surgery.
• To determine if an anti-inflammatory bundle alone can manage pain adequately.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 120 patients undergoing low-risk outpatient surgery.
• All patients received an anti-inflammatory bundle perioperatively.
• Pain scores and opioid consumption were monitored postoperatively.

Main Results:

• All patients experienced a significant decrease in postoperative pain (p=0.001).
• No significant difference in pain scores was observed between patients using the bundle alone versus those also using opioids.
• 58% of patients achieved adequate pain control with the anti-inflammatory bundle alone.

Conclusions:

• An anti-inflammatory bundle alone can provide adequate pain control for many patients after low-risk outpatient surgery.
• Implementing this bundle can reduce the need for opioids.
• This strategy supports efforts to decrease surgeons' contribution to the opioid epidemic.