Most Sinus Surgery Patients Prescribed More Opioids Than Needed

Patients recovering from sinus surgery took, on average, only about half of the opioids prescribed to treat their pain, according to an AHRQ-funded study published in International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology. Researchers surveyed 400 patients between March 2017 and August 2018 after sinonasal surgery at a large hospital system. Patients were asked how they had used prescribed opioids and how they had discarded excess pills. About 52 percent used only half of the pills they were given, 12 percent reported using no opioids and only about 3 percent refilled their prescription. Researchers also discovered that about 76 percent of patients reported improperly disposing of or storing excess pills. They concluded that opioids are being overprescribed after sinonasal surgery and recommended improved patient education on correct disposal methods. Access the abstract.

2019 Nov 6. doi: 10.1002/alr.22478. [Epub ahead of print]

Prescription patterns and opioid usage in sinonasal surgery.

Newberry CI1, Casazza GC1, Pruitt LC2, Meier JD1, Skarda DE2, Alt JA1.

Author information

1: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.
2: Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Excess opioid use after surgery contributes to opiate misuse and diversion. Understanding opioid prescribing and utilization patterns after sinonasal surgery is critical in designing effective practice protocols. In this study we aim to identify factors associated with variable opioid usage and further delineate optimal prescription patterns for sinonasal surgery.

METHODS:

All patients undergoing sinonasal surgery within a single health-care system from March 2017 to August 2018 were sent electronic postoperative surveys. Data were collected on the amount of opioid required, pain control, presurgical opiate use, and narcotic disposal. Additional data collected from the electronic medical record included demographics, type of surgery performed, and total amount of opioid prescribed, including refills.

RESULTS:

Three-hundred sixty four patients were included. A mean number of 25.3 tablets were prescribed per patient, yet the mean taken was just 11.8 tablets. Excess opioids were prescribed 84.9% of the time with a mean excess narcotic in oral morphine equivalents of 152.5. Among patients, 11.8% reported using no opioids, whereas 52.1% used <50% and 36.1% used >50% of their narcotic prescription. Patients used 9.3% of their full prescription and only 2.6% required a refill. The amount used was not associated with complexity of endoscopic sinus surgery, type of opiate prescribed, gender, distance living from hospital, or current opioid usage before surgery (p > 0.05). The addition of septoplasty and/or turbinoplasty was associated with variation in opioid usage (p < 0.001). A total of 76.1% of patients incorrectly discarded/stored excess opiates.

CONCLUSION:

Opioids are overprescribed after sinonasal surgery. The amount of postoperative opiate prescribed should be greatly reduced and may be based on the specific procedures performed. Improved patient education regarding disposal of excess narcotics may help to curtail future opioid diversion.