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Pre-operative opioid use in gynecologic oncology: a common comorbidity relevant to the peri-operative period
  1. Megan Elizabeth Ross,
  2. Lindsay J Wheeler,
  3. Dina M Flink and
  4. Carolyn Lefkowits
  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Megan Elizabeth Ross, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; megan.e.ross{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Objectives Pre-operative opioid use is common and should be considered a comorbidity among surgical candidates. Our objective was to describe the rate of pre-operative opioid use and patterns of post-operative outpatient opioid prescribing in a cohort of gynecologic oncology patients.

Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 448 gynecologic oncology surgical patients undergoing surgery for a suspected or known cancer diagnosis from January 2016 to December 2016. Pre-operative opioid users (n=97) were identified. Patient and surgical characteristics were abstracted, as was post-operative opioid prescription (type of opioid, oral morphine equivalents amount) and length of stay. For pre-operative opioid users, the type of opioid prescribed post-operatively was compared with the type of pre-operative opioid. Pre-operative opioid users were compared with non-users, stratified by surgery type. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using χ2 statistic, and medians were compared using a Mann-Whitney U statistic.

Results Pre-operative opioid prescriptions were noted in 21% of patients, and 24% of these had two or more opioid prescriptions before surgery. The majority of pre-operative opioid users (51%) were maintained on the same agent post-operatively at the time of discharge, but 36% were switched to a different opioid and 7% were prescribed an additional opioid. Overall and in laparotomies, pre-operative opioid users received higher volume post-operative prescriptions than non-users. There was no difference in post-operative prescription volume for minimally invasive surgeries or in length of stay between pre-operative users and non-users.

Conclusions Pre-operative opioid use is common in gynecologic oncology patients and should be considered during pre-operative planning. Pre-operative opioid use was associated with a higher volume and wider range of post-operative prescription. Over 40% of opioid users were discharged with either an additional opioid or a new opioid, highlighting a potential missed opportunity to optimize opioid safety. Further research is needed to characterize the relationship between pre-operative opioid use and peri-operative outcomes and to develop strategies to manage pain effectively in this population without compromising opioid safety.

  • Opioid-Related Disorders
  • Preoperative Period

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Footnotes

  • Contributors All contributors played a substantial role in research planning, data collection, data analysis, and manuscript production.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.