Impact of an opioid stewardship program on opioid exposure for pediatric appendectomy postsurgical pain

Abstract

Background/purposeThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of a Pediatric Acute Pain Guideline on postsurgical pain scores, opioid exposure, and discharge opioid prescribing habits in postappendectomy patients. MethodsThis was a retrospective single-center quality improvement project, including patients admitted for an appendectomy at a pediatric medical center between April 1 and December 31, 2018. Patients 0–17 years of age, who underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy without complications, were inpatient for at least 1 calendar day, and designated as presurgical American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) category 1 or 2 were included. ResultsTwo hundred fifty-eight patients met inclusion criteria (n = 92 pre-, n = 166 post-guideline implementation). There was a decrease in the number of as needed opioid doses used (p = 0.014) and length of hospitalization (p = 0.003) post-guideline implementation compared to pre-guideline implementation. A decrease in the number of as needed doses of opioids used (p < 0.001) and in opioid exposure (p = 0.038) during hospitalization was also seen when the nonopioid pain agent was scheduled. ConclusionsThe implementation of the Pediatric Acute Pain Guideline was associated with a decrease in the number of as needed opioid doses used during hospitalization, which may have contributed to a decreased length of hospitalization. Scheduling nonopioid pain medications decreased opioid exposure. Level of evidenceTreatment study level III.