TY - JOUR
T1 - An individualised tapering protocol reduces opioid use 1 year after spine surgery
T2 - A randomised controlled trial of patients with preoperative opioid use
AU - Uhrbrand, Peter Gaarsdal
AU - Rasmussen, Mikkel Mylius
AU - Haroutounian, Simon
AU - Nikolajsen, Lone
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Background: Persistent opioid use following surgery is common especially in patients with preoperative opioid use. This study aims to determine the long-term effect of an individualised opioid tapering plan versus standard of care in patients with a preoperative opioid use undergoing spine surgery at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. Methods: This is the 1-year follow-up of a prospective, single-centre, randomised trial of 110 patients who underwent elective spine surgery for degenerative disease. The intervention was an individualised tapering plan at discharge and telephone counselling 1 week after discharge, compared to standard of care. Postoperative outcomes after 1 year include opioid use, reasons for opioid use and pain intensity. Results: The overall response rate to the 1-year follow-up questionnaire was 94% (intervention group 52/55 patients and control group 51/55 patients). Forty-two patients (proportion = 0.81, 95% CI 0.67–0.89) in the intervention group compared to 31 (0.61, 95% CI 0.47–0.73; p =.026) patients in the control group succeeded in tapering to zero 1 year after discharge (p =.026). One patient (0.02, 95% CI 0.01–0.13) in the intervention group compared to seven patients (0.14, 95% CI 0.07–0.26) in the control group were unable to taper to their preoperative dose 1 year after discharge (p =.025). Back/neck and radicular pain intensity was similar between study groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that an individualised tapering plan at discharge combined with telephone counselling 1 week after discharge can reduce opioid use 1 year after spine surgery.
AB - Background: Persistent opioid use following surgery is common especially in patients with preoperative opioid use. This study aims to determine the long-term effect of an individualised opioid tapering plan versus standard of care in patients with a preoperative opioid use undergoing spine surgery at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. Methods: This is the 1-year follow-up of a prospective, single-centre, randomised trial of 110 patients who underwent elective spine surgery for degenerative disease. The intervention was an individualised tapering plan at discharge and telephone counselling 1 week after discharge, compared to standard of care. Postoperative outcomes after 1 year include opioid use, reasons for opioid use and pain intensity. Results: The overall response rate to the 1-year follow-up questionnaire was 94% (intervention group 52/55 patients and control group 51/55 patients). Forty-two patients (proportion = 0.81, 95% CI 0.67–0.89) in the intervention group compared to 31 (0.61, 95% CI 0.47–0.73; p =.026) patients in the control group succeeded in tapering to zero 1 year after discharge (p =.026). One patient (0.02, 95% CI 0.01–0.13) in the intervention group compared to seven patients (0.14, 95% CI 0.07–0.26) in the control group were unable to taper to their preoperative dose 1 year after discharge (p =.025). Back/neck and radicular pain intensity was similar between study groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that an individualised tapering plan at discharge combined with telephone counselling 1 week after discharge can reduce opioid use 1 year after spine surgery.
KW - opioid tapering
KW - opioid tolerant
KW - opioid withdrawal
KW - persistent opioid use
KW - spine surgery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159703976&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/aas.14266
DO - 10.1111/aas.14266
M3 - Article
C2 - 37203222
AN - SCOPUS:85159703976
SN - 0001-5172
VL - 67
SP - 1085
EP - 1090
JO - Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
IS - 8
ER -