Global Trends and Insights Into Opioid Utilization for Postoperative Pain Management: A Bibliometric Analysis...

Background: Opioids are a class of potent analgesics extensively utilized for the management of moderate to severe pain. They are integral to postoperative analgesia, effectively mitigating pain following surgical interventions. The present study aims to undertake a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to evaluate research trends and focal areas within the domain of opioid use and postoperative analgesia. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection to gather literature from 2014 to 2024. Analysis of publication trends, research hotspots, and collaboration networks was conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix." Results: The search yielded 5383 relevant articles, indicating a consistent upward trend in research volume, with a significant increase commencing in 2019. The USA emerged as the leading contributor, with Harvard University identified as the foremost institution. The journal Anesthesia and Analgesia was recognized as the most prominent publication in this field, while the influential author was Meissner Winfried. Analyses of keyword identified four clusters, such as complications management, nonopioid analgesics, clinical validation of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) and pharmacokinetics of opioids. Keywords burst analysis showed emerging interests in "enhanced recovery after surgery," "prescription," and "erector spinae plane block." Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis mapped the scientific landscape of opioids in postoperative analgesia. The research hotspots included importance of complications management, nonopioid analgesics, clinical validation of OFA, and pharmacokinetics of opioids. Future studies should improve patient outcomes through individual-based multimodal analgesia with more efficacy and safety.