Effectiveness of a discharge analgesia guideline on discharge opioid prescribing after a surgical procedure from a tertiary metropolitan hospital.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a discharge analgesia guideline on the number of days' supply of opioid analgesics provided among surgical patients upon hospital discharge. The secondary objective was to analyze the effect of this guideline on the provision of an analgesic discharge plan.

Design: A retrospective historical control cohort study.

The use of interventional procedures for cancer pain. A brief review.

Context: Pain is a common experience in people living with cancer. Concerns around opioid prescribing have seen a move toward a multi-modality management approach, which includes interventional pain procedures.

Purpose: In this paper we discuss the interventional pain procedures used to treat cancer pain at two major tertiary centers in Australia.

Supply of opioids and information provided to patients after surgery in an Australian hospital: A cross-sectional study.

Opioids are commonly prescribed to manage pain after surgery. However, excessive supply on discharge can increase patients' risk of persistent opioid use and contribute to the reservoir of unused opioids in the community that may be misused. This study aimed to evaluate the use of opioids in Australian surgical patients after discharge and patient satisfaction with the provision of opioid information after discharge.

Opioid-sparing effect of cannabinoids for analgesia: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical and clinical studies.

Cannabinoid co-administration may enable reduced opioid doses for analgesia. This updated systematic review on the opioid-sparing effects of cannabinoids considered preclinical and clinical studies where the outcome was analgesia or opioid dose requirements. We searched Scopus, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, Medline, and Embase (2016 onwards).

Opioid-related adverse drug events in surgical patients: risk factors and association with clinical outcomes.

Background: Opioid analgesics are commonly used to treat acute post-operative pain. The primary objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) in surgical patients and the association between ORADEs and clinical outcomes.

Research Design And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from July 2016 to April 2020.

Postoperative use of slow-release opioids: The impact of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists/Faculty of Pain Medicine position statement on clinical practice.

Dose titration with immediate-release opioids is currently recommended for acute pain. The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the Faculty of Pain Medicine released a statement in March 2018 supporting their use in the treatment of opioid-naïve patients; however, the impact of this statement on clinical practice is currently unknown. This retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare opioid prescribing patterns before and after the release of the recommendations.

Responsible Prescribing of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Scoping Review.

Chronic non-cancer pain is common and long-term opioid therapy is frequently used in its management. While opioids can be effective, they are also associated with significant harm and misuse, and clinicians must weigh any expected benefits with potential risks when making decisions around prescribing. This review aimed to summarise controlled trials and systematic reviews that evaluate patient-related, provider-related, and system-related factors supporting responsible opioid prescribing for chronic non-cancer pain.

Medication Use and Pain Management in Pregnancy: A Critical Review.

Background: Pain during pregnancy is common, and its management is complex. Certain analgesics may increase the risk for adverse fetal and pregnancy outcomes, while poorly managed pain can result in adverse maternal outcomes such as depression and hypertension. Guidelines to assist clinicians in assessing risks and benefits of exposure to analgesics for the mother and unborn infant are lacking, necessitating evidence-based recommendations for managing pain in pregnancy.

The Pain Course: Exploring the Feasibility of an Internet-delivered Pain Management Program When Offered by a Tertiary Pain Management Service.

Background: This study examined the acceptability and preliminary outcomes of an internet-delivered pain management program, the Pain Course, when offered by a specialist pain management clinic in a large public hospital.

Methods: A single-group feasibility open-trial design was used and 39 patients participated in the program, which ran for 8 weeks. Participants were supported through the program with weekly contact from a Clinical Psychologist at the clinic.

Opioid-Sparing Effect of Cannabinoids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cannabinoids, when co-administered with opioids, may enable reduced opioid doses without loss of analgesic efficacy (ie, an opioid-sparing effect). The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to determine the opioid-sparing potential of cannabinoids. Eligible studies included pre-clinical and clinical studies for which the outcome was either analgesia or opioid dose requirements.

Wound infusion with local anaesthesia after laparotomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The use of a continuous local anaesthesia infusion after laparotomy may reduce opioid requirements and facilitate earlier return of bowel function, independent mobilization and hospital discharge.

Methods: We performed a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial on 55 patients who underwent laparotomy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive a continuous infusion of either 0.