Postoperative opioid prescription patterns and new opioid refills following cardiac implantable electronic device procedures

BACKGROUND Prescription opioids are a major cause of the opioid epidemic. Despite the invasive nature of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures, data on opioid prescription patterns after CIED procedures are lacking. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess opioid prescribing patterns and the rates of new opioid refills (refills in previously opioid naive patients) among patients undergoing CIED procedures. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing CIED procedures from January 1, 2010, to March 30, 2018, at the Mayo Clinic (Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida). Procedures were categorized into new implant, generator change, device upgrade, lead revision or replacement, and subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD) procedures. The rates of postoperative opioid prescription and new opioid refills were analyzed. Wilcoxon rank sum and chi(2) tests assessed variations. RESULTS A total of 16,517 patients (mean age 70 +/- 15; 36% female) underwent CIED procedures. Opioids were prescribed to 20.2% of the patients, among whom 80% were opioid naive. Among opioid naive patients who received opioids, 9.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.3%-10.5%) had subsequent opioid refills. The percentage of patients who received more than 200 oral morphine equivalents of prescription was 38.8% (95% CI 37.2%-40.5%). Temporal trends revealed increasing rates of any opioid prescription, peaking in 2015 at 25.9%, with subsequent downtrend to 14.6% in 2018 (P < .001). CONCLUSION Postoperative opioid prescription rate after CIED procedures was 20.2%, with most patients being opioid naive. Among opioid naive patients who received opioids, 9.4% had subsequent opioid refills. This finding suggests that perioperative pain management in CIED procedures warrants meticulous attention.