Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T05:46:36.744Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

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

1Rudd, RA, Seth, P, David, F, Scholl, L. Increases in drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths - United States, 2010–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:1445–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Becker, S, Becker, D. Review and update on postoperative opioid use after nasal and sinus surgery. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018;26:41–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Wise, SK, Wise, JC, DelGaudio, JM. Evaluation of postoperative pain after sinonasal surgery. Am J Rhinol 2005;19:471–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Sethi, R, Miller, A, Bartholomew, R, Lehmann, A, Bergmark, R, Sedaghat, A et al. Opioid prescription patterns and use among patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. Laryngoscope 2018;129:1046–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Church, CA, Stewart, C 4th, O-Lee, TJ, Wallace, D. Rofecoxib versus hydrocodone/acetaminophen for postoperative analgesia in functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Laryngoscope 2006;116:602–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Kemppainen, T, Kokki, H, Tuomilehto, H, Seppä, J, Nuutinen, J. Acetaminophen is highly effective in pain treatment after endoscopic sinus surgery. Laryngoscope 2006;116:2125–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed