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Revisiting Postoperative Pediatric Urology Opioid Prescriptions
Michael K Tram1, Laura Donnelly1, Paul J Feustel2
1Department of Urology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY.
Insights
Pediatric urology opioid prescriptions decreased to 2.2% from 8% in 2019, with no adverse effects noted. Further targeted feedback is recommended to reduce opioid usage.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Pain Management
- Opioid Prescribing Practices
Background:
- Opioid prescriptions are a concern in pediatric surgery.
- Reducing opioid use is a key goal in pediatric urology.
- Previous data indicated an 8% opioid prescription rate in 2019.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the current opioid prescription rate in pediatric urology patients.
- To compare the current rate with the 2019 rate.
- To identify areas for future interventions to decrease opioid prescriptions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric urology patients (age ≤18 years) undergoing procedures between October 2020 and October 2021.
- Data collected included opioid prescribing, patient demographics, surgeon, procedure type, and setting.
- Procedures were categorized into six groups for analysis.
Main Results:
- The overall opioid prescription rate was 2.2% (18/821 discharges).
- The rate significantly decreased from 8% in 2019.
- Older patients, inpatient procedures, and one specific provider were associated with higher prescription rates. No adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions:
- The institution achieved a significant reduction in opioid prescriptions in pediatric urology.
- Heightened awareness has contributed to the decrease.
- Targeted provider feedback is necessary for further reduction.
Objective:
To measure our opioid prescription rate, determine if our rate has decreased since 2019, and identify areas for future interventions to further decrease our opioid prescription rate.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed all pediatric urology patients (age ..±18 years) who underwent a procedure between October 1, 2020 and October 22, 2021. We collected data on opioid prescribing, age, sex, surgeon, procedure, ethnicity, and race. We grouped procedures into 6 categories: circumcision, cystoscopy with the removal of foreign body/stone/stent, scrotal surgery, hypospadias repair/penile surgery, pyeloplasty/ureteral reimplant, and others.
Results:
We analyzed 821 operative cases. Only 2.2% (18/821) of discharges included an opioid prescription. The prescription rate of 1 pediatric urologist was 4.6% (17/369), which was higher than the other 2 practitioners... (0.40%, 1/250%, and 0%, 0/202) (P.ß<.ß.001). The median age of patients who received an opioid prescription was older than patients without an opioid prescription (16.5 vs.ß5.0 years, P.ß<.ß.001). Surgery performed in an inpatient setting was more likely to result in an opioid prescription (9.7%, 3/31) than in the outpatient setting (1.9%, 15/790) (P.ß=.ß.03). No adverse effects of reduced opioid usage were noted.
Conclusion:
From October 2020 to October 2021, our institution had an opioid prescription rate of 2.2%. This represented a decrease from our previously reported rate of 8% in 2019. At the same time, we found no significant pain issues in our post-operative patients. Seventeen out of 18 prescriptions were written under 1 provider. Though heightened awareness has made a difference, targeted feedback is needed if we wish to reduce opioid usage further.
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