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An international multidisciplinary consensus statement on the prevention of opioid-related harm in adult surgical patients. Anaesthesia Levy, N. n., Quinlan, J. n., El-Boghdadly, K. n., Fawcett, W. J., Agarwal, V. n., Bastable, R. B., Cox, F. J., de Boer, H. D., Dowdy, S. C., Hattingh, K. n., Knaggs, R. D., Mariano, E. R., Pelosi, P. n., Scott, M. J., Lobo, D. N., Macintyre, P. E. 2020

Abstract

This international multidisciplinary consensus statement was developed to provide balanced guidance on the safe peri-operative use of opioids in adults. An international panel of healthcare professionals evaluated the literature relating to postoperative opioid-related harm, including persistent postoperative opioid use; opioid-induced ventilatory impairment; non-medical opioid use; opioid diversion and dependence; and driving under the influence of prescription opioids. Recommended strategies to reduce harm include pre-operative assessment of the risk of persistent postoperative opioid use; use of an assessment of patient function rather than unidimensional pain scores alone to guide adequacy of analgesia; avoidance of long-acting (modified-release and transdermal patches) opioid formulations and combination analgesics; limiting the number of tablets prescribed at discharge; providing deprescribing advice; avoidance of automatic prescription refills; safe disposal of unused medicines; reducing the risk of opioid diversion; and better education of healthcare professionals, patients and carers. This consensus statement provides a framework for better prescribing practices that could help reduce the risk of postoperative opioid-related harm in adults.

View details for DOI 10.1111/anae.15262

View details for PubMedID 33027841