1. Trends in opioid use in patients undergoing primary surgery for cervical cancer
- Author
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Katherine L. Tucker, Laura Farnan, Irene Doherty, Paola A. Gehrig, and Jeannette T. Bensen
- Subjects
Cervical cancer ,Cancer Research ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Opioid epidemic ,Oncology ,business.industry ,Opioid use ,medicine ,In patient ,Pain management ,Intensive care medicine ,medicine.disease ,business - Abstract
e17014 Background: In response to the opioid epidemic, restrictions on prescribing opioids for pain management may result in unintended consequences for patients with cancer-related pain. Factors that place women at higher risk for opioid misuse include age, insurance status, tobacco use and a diagnosis of cervical cancer. Our objective was to describe describe patterns of opioid use and prescribing practices over time. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with cervix cancer enrolled in our institution’s Health Registry/Cancer Survivorship Cohort from 5/2010-3/2017. The dataset included demographics, clinicopathologic data, reported opioid use (prior, during and after treatment) and prescription history from the EMR after IRB approval. This preliminary analysis included frequencies, cross-tabulations, and measures of distributional characteristics. Results: Of the 122 patients identified, 94 had surgery. Mean age at diagnosis was 44.7 yrs and BMI was 29.13. Eighteen (19.1%) patients had an opioid use history. Given changes in EMR documentation in 2014, 37 were excluded as assessment of opioid use and prescriptions was limited to only MD documentation. While there was no pre-defined protocol change, post-operative opioid prescribing practices changed in late 2014. From 5/2014-11/2014, 17 patients underwent surgery with 88% receiving prescriptions for 40 tablets of an opioid. From 12/2014-12/2016, 40 patients underwent surgery with 27.5% receiving prescriptions for 40 tablets of an opioid and 65% receiving 20-30 tablets. Prior to 12/2014, 1/16 patients (6.3%) required additional opioids postoperatively with no documented complication compared to 9/40 patients (22.5%) after 12/2014. In this group, most frequent prescriptions were coming from the patient’s gynecologic oncologist and/or a primary care provider. Conclusions: We saw a small increase in additional opioids after the routine number prescribed declined. However, this comprised a minority of patients. Monitoring of the opioid needs and use among women with cervix cancer will aid in the development of clinically-tailored guidelines to replace the current reactionary restrictions on treatment for all patients.
- Published
- 2019
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