Painkillers are not always beneficial as patients recover from minor surgeries and may also be the reason behind the rise in the current opioid crisis, according to a study published in The Lancet. The study led by a team at McGill University in Canada looked at the results of 47 randomized clinical trials in patients discharged after a minor or moderate procedure, ranging from molar extraction to foot surgery. The findings showed that prescribing opioids after recovery and discharge from the hospital after surgery did not reduce pain intensity but increased adverse effects. Prescribing opioids was associated with an increased risk of vomiting and other side effects, including nausea, constipation, dizziness, and drowsiness. Dr. Julio Fiore, assistant professor at McGill, suggested that clinicians may consider prescribing non-opioid analgesia in these surgical settings. Avoiding opioids could in many cases improve patients’ recovery experience while helping to mitigate the well-documented risks of opioid addiction, Fiore told CBC News. “We really expect these findings to encourage changes in prescribing practices. After all, like prescribing opioids, such as after discharge, our research has shown that it doesn’t seem to be as beneficial to patients as previously thought,” he said. However, Fiore noted that there is a need for more research involving opioid prescribing after major surgery to determine best practices. Of the studies reviewed, 30 involved minor procedures (most of which were dental) and 17 involved procedures of a more modest nature, for example, on the shoulder or leg. Among the opioids most commonly prescribed by surgeons are oxycodone, hydromorphone, tramadol and codeine, according to the researchers.
title: “Excessive Painkillers After Surgery Lead To Opioid Crisis Lancet " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-02” author: “Christine Armstrong”
The study led by a team at McGill University in Canada looked at the results of 47 randomized clinical trials in patients discharged after a minor or moderate procedure, ranging from molar extraction to foot surgery.
The findings showed that prescribing opioids after recovery and discharge from the hospital after surgery did not reduce pain intensity but increased adverse effects.
Prescribing opioids was associated with an increased risk of vomiting and other side effects, including nausea, constipation, dizziness, and drowsiness.
Dr. Julio Fiore, assistant professor at McGill, suggested that clinicians may consider prescribing non-opioid analgesia in these surgical settings.
Avoiding opioids could in many cases improve patients’ recovery experience while helping to mitigate the well-documented risks of opioid addiction, Fiore told CBC News.
“We really expect these findings to encourage changes in prescribing practices. After all, like prescribing opioids, such as after discharge, our research has shown that it doesn’t seem to be as beneficial to patients as previously thought,” he said.
However, Fiore noted that there is a need for more research involving opioid prescribing after major surgery to determine best practices.
Of the studies reviewed, 30 involved minor procedures (most of which were dental) and 17 involved procedures of a more modest nature, for example, on the shoulder or leg.
Among the opioids most commonly prescribed by surgeons are oxycodone, hydromorphone, tramadol and codeine, according to the researchers.
