Trends in postoperative opioid prescribing in Ontario between 2013 and 2019: a population-based cohort study

Electroacupuncture is a nonpharmacologic intervention for analgesia that is widely recognized as therapy for pain. However, the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for postoperative analgesia after cesarean delivery remains unclear.This study aimed to assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture + patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for postoperative analgesia after cesarean delivery, determine the optimal frequency for the best analgesic effect, and explore the underlying mechanism of action.This single-center, randomized, single-blinded, sham acupuncture controlled clinical trial was conducted at a tertiary university hospital in China. Female patients who underwent cesarean delivery and received fentanyl as patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for postoperative analgesia were enrolled. Patients were after surgery randomized to receive 2 Hz electroacupuncture treatment (n=53), 20/100 Hz electroacupuncture treatment (n=53), or sham electroacupuncture treatment (n=52) (controls). The 2 electroacupuncture groups received electroacupuncture treatment at 2 or 20/100 Hz at the ST36 and SP6 points, whereas, in the sham electroacupuncture group, sham electroacupuncture was performed at nonmeridian points with nonenergized electroacupuncture instruments. Of note, 4 electroacupuncture treatments were performed in all groups at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. The primary outcome was the number of analgesic pump compressions at 48 hours after surgery. The secondary outcomes included number of analgesic pump compressions at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery; pain scores at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery; fentanyl consumption at 48 hours after surgery; interleukin 6 and procalcitonin levels at 12 and 48 hours after surgery; and time to first exhaust.Overall, 174 primigravida women were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The number of analgesic pump compressions and pain scores at all 4 time points and fentanyl consumption at 48 hours after surgery were significantly lower in the electroacupuncture treatment groups than in the sham electroacupuncture group (P<.001).Electroacupuncture + patient-controlled intravenous analgesia had a significantly better analgesic effect than sham electroacupuncture + patient-controlled intravenous analgesia within 48 hours after surgery. Thus, electroacupuncture can be considered safe and effective and may improve the efficacy of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for pain management after cesarean delivery. Electroacupuncture can be recommended as a routine complementary therapy for pain control after cesarean delivery. 

Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined with Intravenous Patient-controlled Analgesia after Cesarean Section: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Although cesarean delivery is the most common surgery performed in the United States, prescribing practices for analgesia vary. Strategies to manage postpartum pain have mostly focused on the immediate postpartum period when patients are still admitted to the hospital. At discharge, most providers prescribe a fixed number of opioid tablets. Most patients do not use all the opioids that they are prescribed at hospital discharge. This leads to an excess of opioids in the community, which can ultimately lead to misuse and diversion.This study aimed to determine whether a transition from universal opioid prescribing to a personalized, patient-specific protocol decreases morphine milligram equivalents prescribed at hospital discharge after cesarean delivery while adequately controlling pain.This was a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing cesarean delivery before and after the implementation of a personalized opioid-prescribing practice at the time of hospital discharge. Each patient was prescribed scheduled ibuprofen and acetaminophen, with a prescription for oxycodone tablets equal to 5 times the morphine milligram equivalents used in the 24 hours before discharge, calculated via an electronic order set. The previous traditional cohorts were routinely prescribed 30 tablets of acetaminophen-codeine 300/30 mg. The primary outcome was morphine milligram equivalents prescribed at discharge. A hotline to address pain control issues after discharge was established, and calls, emergency department visits, and readmissions were examined. Statistical analyses was performed using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, with a P value of <.05 considered statistically significant.Overall, 412 patients underwent cesarean delivery in the 6 weeks after initiation of the personalized prescribing protocol and were compared with 367 patients before the change. The median morphine milligram equivalents prescribed at discharge was lower with personalized prescribing (37.5 [interquartile range, 0-75] vs 135 [interquartile range, 135-135]; P<.001). Moreover, 176 patients (43%) were not prescribed opioids at discharge, which was a substantial change as all 367 patients in the traditional cohort received opioids at discharge (P<.001). Of note, 9 hotline phone calls were received; none required additional opioids after a 24-hour trial of scheduled ibuprofen, which none had taken before the call. In addition, 11 patients (2.7%) presented to the emergency department for pain evaluation, of which none required readmission or an outpatient prescription of opioids.A personalized protocol for opioid prescriptions after cesarean delivery decreased the total morphine milligram equivalents and the number of opioid tablets at discharge, without hospital readmissions or need for rescue opioid prescriptions after discharge. Opioids released into our community will be reduced by more than 90,000 tablets per year, without demonstrable adverse effect. 

A Personalized Protocol for Prescribing Opioids After Cesarean Delivery: Leveraging the Electronic Medical Record to Reduce Outpatient Opioid Prescriptions.

Suboptimal treatment of postpartum pain is associated with persistent pain and postpartum depression. Multimodal analgesia can achieve superior pain relief and decreased opioid consumption after surgery. There is limited and conflicting data on abdominal support devices to reduce postoperative pain and opioid use after cesarean delivery.This study aimed to examine whether the use of a panniculus elevation device decreases opioid use and improves postoperative pain after cesarean delivery.This was an unblinded prospective trial in which eligible, consenting patients aged ≥18 years were randomized to the panniculus elevation device group or no device group within 36 hours after cesarean delivery. The device studied adheres to the abdomen and lifts the panniculus. Moreover, it can be repositioned during use. Patients with a vertical skin incision or chronic opioid use disorder were excluded. Participants were surveyed 10 and 14 days after delivery about opioid use and pain satisfaction. The primary outcome was total morphine milligram equivalents used after delivery. The secondary outcomes were inpatient and outpatient opioid use, subjective pain scores, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pain interference scores. An a priori subgroup analysis was performed on participants with obesity who may uniquely benefit from panniculus elevation.Of 538 patients screened for inclusion from April 2021 to July 2022, 484 were eligible, and 278 were consented and randomized. Moreover, 56 participants (20%) were lost to follow-up, leaving 222 (118 in the device group vs 104 in the control group) for analysis. Follow-up frequency was similar between groups (P=.09). Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between groups. There was no statistically significant difference in total opioid use, other opioid use measures, or pain satisfaction outcomes. Median device use was 5 days (interquartile range, 3-9), and 64% of participants randomized to device use stated that they would use it again. Here, similar trends were observed among participants with obesity (n=152).The use of a panniculus elevation device did not significantly reduce total opioid use after cesarean delivery in patients. 

Effect of panniculus elevation device on postoperative pain after cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the impact of implementing a multimodal plan of care in treating the pain of the postoperative cesarean birth patient that limited opioid exposure.A retrospective medical record review was conducted to evaluate a pain management protocol implemented for postoperative cesarean patients before and after a practice change. Sample included term postoperative cesarean patients ≥ 37 weeks of gestation, who had spinal or epidural, were 18 years or older, gave birth to a singleton newborn, admitted to the maternal child health department, and were prescribed opioids as a postoperative pain management treatment plan. Participants (N = 150) were evaluated based on two groups: n = 75 in the preimplementation group and n = 75 in the postimplementation group.There was a significant difference in the total oral opioid milligrams administered between the pregroup (M = 27.13) and postgroup (M = 8.43), after the practice change (p < .001). There was an increase of nonopioids administered to treat and manage postoperative cesarean pain, Motrin PO (p = < .001) and Tylenol PO (p = .002).Fewer milligram equivalents of morphine were administered when postoperative cesarean patients were placed on scheduled nonopioids to treat pain. 

A Multimodal Protocol to Limit Opioid Exposure and Effectively Manage Postoperative Cesarean Birth Pain

A Comparison of Acute Pain Management Strategies After Cesarean Delivery

Epiaortic ultrasound is an imaging modality that is commonly used to evaluate the ascending aorta for atheroma and other mural lesions during elective cardiac surgery. Its use in contained aortic rupture has not been established. We present a case of thoracic trauma with contained pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta. At operation, the precise location of the aortic tear could not be identified by visual inspection, manual palpation, or transesophageal echocardiography. Epiaortic ultrasound was employed and the aortic defect was identified and successfully repaired. This intraoperative imaging modality may play an increasing role in the identification of aortic pathology when visual inspection and other intraoperative imaging is insufficient.

/pdf/intraoperative-epiaortic-ultrasound-for-traumatic-1qz8vhwvuu.pdf

Intraoperative Epiaortic Ultrasound for Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Ascending Aorta.

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A Comparison of Acute Pain Management Strategies After Cesarean Delivery

Intraoperative Epiaortic Ultrasound for Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Ascending Aorta.