Opioid Use After Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgeries

Overview

Unnecessary opioid prescriptions for postoperative pain can increase the risk for new, persistent opioid use and dependence. Published literature suggests that most patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery can have their pain effectively managed without opioids following hospital discharge. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, quality improvement study is to develop, implement, and measure the impact of a quality improvement bundle that consists of (1) patient education, (2) provider education, and (3) electronic health record (EHR) enhancements. The proportion of patients who receive new opioid discharge prescriptions for pain management following thyroid or parathyroid surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital for up to 6 months following bundle implementation will be compared to a historical control group.

BACKGROUND: New and persistent opioid use after minor and major surgery is common, and the duration of opioid use following surgery is associated with opioid dependence, abuse, and overdose. Most patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery do not require opioid discharge prescriptions for effective pain management. If opioids are prescribed for these surgeries, up to 7% of patients will use opioids 3 to 6 months after surgery. Previously published quality programs that optimized perioperative multimodal analgesia (MMA) regimens, provider education, patient education, and shared decision making successfully reduced the proportion of patients discharged with opioid prescriptions to less than 5% following thyroid and parathyroid surgery. STUDY DESIGN: This quasi-experimental, quality improvement study compares opioid discharge prescribing practices before and after implementation of the quality improvement bundle. The quality improvement bundle includes patient education, provider education, and EHR enhancements. Patients who undergo a thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy procedure will be included in the study. The historical control group includes patients treated prior to bundle implementation. The post-implementation group includes patients treated within 4 to 6 months following bundle implementation. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients who receive new opioid discharge prescriptions at discharge following a thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy procedure. This outcome excludes the continuation of previous, chronic opioid therapy.