Decreased opioid prescribing in children using an enhanced recovery protocol

Background: A previously implemented Enhanced Recovery Protocol (ERP) for children undergoing elective gastrointestinal operations demonstrated decreased length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital opioid use. We hypothesized that the ERP would be associated with decreased postdischarge opioid prescribing. Methods: Demographic, operative, and opioid prescription data were retrospectively compared between elective gastrointestinal surgical patients in the pre-ERP (1/2012-12/2014) and the post-ERP periods (1/2015-12/2017). Results: Of the 99 patients reviewed, 56 (56.7%) were treated in the post-ERP era. Overall, 48 (48.5%) were male, and the most common operation was partial or total colectomy (n - 39, 39.4%) followed by ileocecectomy (n - 26,26.3%). Most patients were 15-16 years of age and had inflammatory bowel disease (n = 88, 88.9%). LOS decreased from a median 4 days pre-ERP to 3 days post-ERP (p = 0.02). Patients receiving intraoperative opioids decreased from 100% to 46% (p < 0.01) and postoperative opioids from 95% to 59% (p < 0.01). Patients receiving an opioid prescription at discharge decreased from 69.8% pre-ERP to 30.9% post-ERP (p < 001). Among patients prescribed opioids at discharge, the number of doses (median 23 to 17, p = 0.44) and the median morphine equivalents/kg remained stable (median 2.3 to 17, p = 0.10). Conclusions: A pediatric gastrointestinal surgery ERP resulted in decreased postdischarge prescribing of opioids. Type of study: Retrospective cohort study. (C) 2019 Elsevier ighls reserved.