1. Contrasting opioid use for pain management in microvascular head and neck reconstruction: an international study.
- Author
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Weyh, A.M., Pucci, R., Busby, E., Kansal, L., Joy, R., Bunnell, A., Valentini, V., Dyalram, D., Pattatheyill, A., Figari, M., Boccalatte, L., Larrañaga, J., Cassoni, A., and Fernandes, R.
- Subjects
MANDIBLE surgery ,FREE flaps ,PAIN management ,POSTOPERATIVE pain treatment ,OPIOIDS ,NECK ,FIBULA - Abstract
Opioids are often the mainstay of postoperative pain management, despite strong evidence of their ill effects and potential for long-term addiction. The goal of this study was to quantify opioid use and contrast pain management strategies of multiple international institutions performing fibula free flap reconstruction. A retrospective multicenter cohort study was designed, including five international centers. For inclusion, the patients had to have undergone a primary fibula free flap reconstruction of the mandible. A total of 185 patients were included. The median opioid use across all centers at 72 hours was 133 oral morphine equivalents. The highest utilization was in the USA (P < 0.001), which was approximately six times that of Italy, four times that of Argentina, and twice that of India, despite all centers performing a similar procedure. Based on this study there are clear differences in prescribing practices and ideologies among surgeons from different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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