Feasibility of pharmacogenetic-guided selection of postoperative analgesics in gynecologic surgery patients: a...

Evaluate the feasibility of implementing a multigene pharmacogenetic (PGx) test and genotype-guided pharmacist recommendations into gynecologic perioperative workflows and fidelity to pharmacist genotype-guided postoperative analgesic recommendations.

A randomized, prospective, open-label pilot study was conducted in gynecologic patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Participants received multigene PGx testing and were randomized to the PGx-guided group where results were returned to the electronic health record with pharmacist genotype-guided postoperative analgesic recommendations or usual care. Primary outcomes included the proportion of PGx results and pharmacist recommendations completed before surgery, the number of prescriptions in alignment with pharmacist recommendations, and the proportion of analgesics prescribed differing from usual care.

Of the 101 participants analyzed, all were female, 50 ± 14 years old, 49% were Black, 48% were White, 60% were treated by gynecologic oncology, and 76% underwent minimally invasive surgery. PGx results were returned to the genomics results portal a median of 7 (interquartile range: 6-9) business days after ordering the test. A majority (85%) of results were returned before the participant's surgery. Pharmacist genotype-guided analgesic recommendations were completed for 35 (73%) of the 48 participants in the PGx-guided group. And, 32 (91%) of the prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and 23 (66%) of the prescribed opioids matched the pharmacist's recommendations. Barriers included missed pharmacist notes when surgery dates were moved and low use of study-specific order set.

PGx test results were available before most surgeries, but the pharmacist recommendations were not always followed. Enhanced implementation strategies will need to be developed in future genotype-guided protocols.