Prescription and Usage Pattern of Opioids after Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery

• Published in: Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery Vol. 160; no. 3; p. 388
• Main Authors: Long, Sallie M, Lumley, Catherine J, Zeymo, Alexander, Davidson, Bruce J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2019
• Subjects: head and neck surgery; pain; thyroidectomy; parathyroidectomy; opioids
• ISSN: 1097-6817
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599818779776

We seek to characterize the prescribing patterns of opioids, opioid consumption, and pain severity after thyroid and parathyroid surgery. We also aim to determine if a relationship exists between preoperative medication use and postoperative pain or opioid consumption. Case series with chart review. Academic university hospital. Medical records of 237 adult patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery were included. Clinicopathologic data were collected, including pain scores, preoperative medications, and inpatient pain medications. The mean maximum pain score was 5.74 and varied by surgery type (range, 0-10). Mean pain score decreased to 2.61 upon discharge (0-8) and to 0.51 at the first postoperative visit. Patients with a length of stay exceeding 1 day had significantly higher maximum pain scores than those with a length of stay of 0 or 1 day (8 vs 5.58, P < .001). Morphine milligram equivalents while in the hospital averaged 25.4 per day and were significantly influenced by preoperative opioid use (0-202). Acetaminophen/oxycodone was the most commonly prescribed opioid. The mean number of pills prescribed postoperatively was 43.1 (0-120). In our population, patients are discharged with opioid prescriptions that may be in excess of their requirements following thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Preoperative opioid use was associated with higher postoperative pain score and, on multivariate analysis, greater inpatient opioid consumption. Further investigation is warranted to ensure that we are prescribing opioids appropriately following thyroid and parathyroid surgery.