Trends in Routine Opioid Dispensing After Common Pediatric Surgeries in the United States: 2014-2019

Tori N Sutherland1,2,3, Hannah Wunsch4,5, Craig Newcomb6

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care.

Pediatrics
|April 4, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Postoperative opioid dispensing significantly decreased for children after outpatient surgery starting in 2017. This trend suggests successful interventions in pediatric pain management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pain Management
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Opioid use in pediatric outpatient surgery has been a growing concern.
  • Effective pain management strategies are crucial for minimizing postoperative complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in postoperative opioid dispensing following pediatric outpatient surgeries.
  • To identify the starting point of significant changes in opioid prescribing patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to analyze dispensing data.
  • The study focused on outpatient pediatric surgical procedures.

Main Results:

  • A substantial decrease in postoperative opioid dispensing was observed.
  • The decline in opioid dispensing began in 2017.

Conclusions:

  • The findings indicate a significant shift in opioid prescribing practices for pediatric outpatient surgeries since 2017.
  • This suggests the potential effectiveness of recent interventions or guidelines in reducing opioid use in this population.

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