Opioids May Cause More Harm Than Good After Mild to Moderate Surgery
-
Opioid prescriptions after minor to moderate surgeries do not reduce pain after patient discharge, according to a new meta-analysis. Researchers also found that patients given opioid prescriptions are at higher risk of adverse events, including vomiting, nausea, and constipation.
-
@roopendra For the research, Fiore and colleagues searched medical databases to find multidose studies from January 1, 1990, to July 8, 2021, comparing opioids with opioid-free pain management after surgeries performed in an outpatient setting or at a hospital. Of the 47 studies included in the analysis, eight were randomized control trials. Nearly two thirds (64%) were for elective minor procedures — the majority being dental work — and 36% were moderate procedures, mainly encompassing general surgeries such as hernia repair and minimally invasive orthopedic procedures.