Abstract
Objectives
To identify factors associated with opioid use after pediatric urologic surgery, use
this data to educate our patients and colleagues on decreasing post-operative opioid
use, and assess the effectiveness of this approach.
Methods
From 1/2018 - 12/2019, a written questionnaire asking which pain medications were
used after surgery was given to patients’ families before routine post-operative appointments.
A retrospective review of the surveys and patient charts was performed. Demographic
factors were compared between patients who did and did not use opioids with Fisher's
exact and t tests. Midway through the study, the results were presented to the urology
department in an attempt to reduce opioid use over the next year. The number of opioid
prescriptions and patients who used opioids after surgery in 2018 versus 2019 was
compared.
Results
1001 patients were included with a mean age of 5 years, 96% male. Patients used a
mean of 4.5 doses of opioids and 83% had leftover opioids. Factors significantly associated
with not using opioids included age less than 3, penile, and endoscopic surgery. Between
2018 and 2019–despite no significant difference in patient age, gender, or procedure
type–the number of patients who were prescribed (61% vs 34%, P < .0001) and who used opioids (55 vs 28%, P < .0001) was significantly decreased.
Conclusion
After pediatric urologic surgery, many patients do not need opioid prescriptions.
Reviewing our own opioid use practices and providing education within our department
allowed us to significantly decrease the number of opioids prescribed and used after
surgery.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 23, 2021
Accepted:
April 9,
2021
Received:
January 10,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
