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A study of the use of post-operative opioid analgesics following rhinology surgery in 35 patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2019

S Dodhia ,
S Patel ,
G Beghal ,
K Pandey  and
C Hopkins
S Dodhia
Affiliation:
GKT School of Medical Education, London, UK
S Patel*
Affiliation:
GKT School of Medical Education, London, UK
G Beghal
Affiliation:
GKT School of Medical Education, London, UK
K Pandey
Affiliation:
GKT School of Medical Education, London, UK
C Hopkins
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Sachin Patel, GKT School of Medical Education, Hodgkin Building, Newcomen Street, LondonSE1 1UL, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective

Opioid analgesics are often prescribed following rhinology surgery. This study aimed to evaluate whether the quantity of opioid analgesics prescribed is justified.

Methods

Patients were asked about their pain management post-operatively. Parameters recorded included: current pain (using a 10-point Likert scale); type of operation; the opioid analgesics prescribed; and the quantity of opioid tablets taken and other methods of pain relief used.

Results

Thirty-five patients were successfully contacted. The median pain score at one week post-operation was 1 (interquartile range, 0–3). Of these 35 patients, 16 were prescribed opioids, whilst 19 were not. Patients prescribed opioids took a median of 8 tablets (interquartile range, 0.8–10.5) out of the 28 tablets prescribed.

Conclusion

The study shows that the quantity of post-operative opioid analgesics prescribed does not compare with the amount consumed by patients to relieve pain, resulting in a surplus of opioid medication which has the potential to be abused.

Keywords

AnalgesiaOpioid AbuseOtorhinolaryngologySurgery
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 12 , December 2019 , pp. 1050 - 1052
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019

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Footnotes

Mr S Patel takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented at the 27th Congress of the European Rhinologic Society, 22–26 April 2018, London, UK.

References

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