Association Between Intra- and Postoperative Opioids in Opioid-Naïve Patients in Thoracic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Surgical Oncology
• Pain Management

Background:

• The ongoing opioid epidemic necessitates a deeper understanding of perioperative opioid use.
• Opioid administration during thoracic surgery requires careful consideration due to its potential impact on postoperative pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between intraoperative opioid administration and postoperative opioid use in opioid-naïve patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
• To identify predictors of increased intra- and postoperative opioid consumption.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 126 patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery from January 2018 to December 2019.
• Data extracted from a large health system's repository, including intraoperative and postoperative opioid administration (morphine milligram equivalents).

Main Results:

• Increased intraoperative opioid use was significantly associated with increased postoperative opioid use (B = 0.57, P < .0003).
• Younger age, higher weight, and greater comorbidity burden predicted higher opioid consumption.
• Race and sex were not significant predictors of opioid use.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative opioid administration significantly influences postoperative opioid requirements in thoracic surgery patients.
• Patient factors like age, weight, and comorbidities are key predictors of opioid use, suggesting personalized pain management strategies are crucial.