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Perioperative Medicine

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Opioids | Research

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocol and postoperative opioid prescribing for cesarean delivery: an interrupted time series analysis

Authors: E. M. Langnas, Z. A. Matthay, A. Lin, M. W. Harbell, R. Croci, R. Rodriguez-Monguio, C. L. Chen

Published in: Perioperative Medicine | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Introduction

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have emerged as a promising strategy to reduce postoperative opioid use and decrease the risk of developing new persistent opioid use in surgical patients. However, the association between ERAS implementation and discharge opioid prescribing practices is unclear.

Study design

We conducted a retrospective observational quasi-experimental study of opioid-naïve patients aged 18+ undergoing cesarean delivery between February 2015 and December 2019 at a large academic center. An interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was used to model the changes in pain medication prescribing associated with the implementation of ERAS to account for pre-existing temporal trends.

Results

Among the 1473 patients (out of 2249 total) who underwent cesarean delivery after ERAS implementation, 80.72% received a discharge opioid prescription vs. 95.36% at baseline. Pre-ERAS daily oral morphine equivalents (OME) on the discharge prescription decreased by 0.48 OME each month (p<0.01). There was a level shift of 35 more OME prescribed (p<0.01), followed by a monthly decrease of 1.4 OMEs per month after ERAS implementation (p<0.01). Among those who received a prescription, 61.35% received a total daily dose greater than 90 OME compared to 11.35% pre-implementation (p<0.01), while prescriptions with a total daily dose less than 50 OME decreased from 79.86 to 25.85% after ERAS implementation(p<0.01).

Conclusion

Although ERAS implementation reduced the overall proportion of patients receiving a discharge opioid prescription after cesarean delivery, for the subset of patients receiving an opioid prescription, ERAS implementation may have inadvertently increased the prescribing of daily doses greater than 90 OME. This finding highlights the importance of early and continued evaluation after new policies are implemented.

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Title: Enhanced recovery after surgery protocol and postoperative opioid prescribing for cesarean delivery: an interrupted time series analysis
Authors: E. M. Langnas
Z. A. Matthay
A. Lin
M. W. Harbell
R. Croci
R. Rodriguez-Monguio
C. L. Chen
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Opioids
Opioids
Morphine
Published in: Perioperative Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2047-0525
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13741-021-00209-0

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Enhanced recovery after surgery protocol and postoperative opioid prescribing for cesarean delivery: an interrupted time series analysis

Abstract

Introduction

Study design

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Study design

Results

Conclusion

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