Otolaryngology practice patterns in pediatric tonsillectomy: The impact of the codeine boxed warning.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine if otolaryngologists at a single children's hospital were adherent to the boxed warning for codeine use in post-tonsillectomy patients and the implications for practice patterns.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Methods: Charts from all patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy at a single children's hospital from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015 were analyzed and stratified according to date (pre- or post-boxed warning) and practitioner type (academic otolaryngologists [AO] vs. nonacademic otolaryngologists [NAO]). Demographic data, surgical technique, method of removal, narcotic prescriptions (dosage and drug), and complications were recorded. Fisher exact test was used to determine the level of significance in prescription rates pre- and postwarning. SPSS version 22 was used for statistical analysis, with P < .05 indicating statistical significance.

Results: There were 2,749 children undergoing adenotonsillectomy during the study period, with 1,239 AOs and 1,510 NAOs. There was a distinct downward trend in codeine prescriptions before and after the warning, with the AO group reaching zero sooner than the NAO group. There was a 5% decrease in discharge narcotic prescriptions given postwarning (P < .001), but no significant difference in postoperative emergency department visits or pain-related complications when comparing the two time periods.

Conclusions: Codeine use for management of pediatric post-tonsillectomy pain was essentially zero after issuance of the boxed warning. Total narcotic use decreased significantly without increase in pain- or medication-related complications. Future research should focus on identifying markers of increased susceptibility to adverse medication events and determining the safest options for pain management.

Level Of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:264-268, 2018.