Oxycodone prescription after inflatable penile prosthesis has risks of persistent use: a TriNetX analysis

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pain Management
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) placement is a common urological procedure.
• Opioid prescriptions following surgery are standard, but their long-term impact requires investigation.
• Understanding the risks associated with postoperative oxycodone is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of oxycodone prescriptions on short-term outcomes and long-term use after IPP surgery.
• To compare patients receiving postoperative oxycodone with matched opioid-naïve patients not receiving the prescription.
• To evaluate emergency department visits, opioid abuse/dependence diagnoses, and persistent oxycodone use.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX research database.
• Inclusion of adult patients undergoing IPP placement.
• Propensity score matching to compare opioid-naïve patients prescribed oxycodone versus those not prescribed oxycodone.

Main Results:

• Increased 90-day emergency department visits observed in patients prescribed oxycodone (6.8% vs 5.0%).
• Similar 14-day emergency department visit rates between groups.
• Significantly higher likelihood of persistent oxycodone use at 9-15 months for patients prescribed oxycodone (5.1% vs 2.7%).

Conclusions:

• Oxycodone prescription following IPP placement is associated with increased risks of persistent use and higher 90-day emergency department utilization.
• Withholding postoperative oxycodone did not lead to increased short-term healthcare utilization.
• These findings suggest potential for optimizing pain management protocols after IPP surgery to mitigate long-term opioid risks.