A Review of Opioid-Sparing Modalities in Perioperative Pain Management: Methods to Decrease Opioid Use Postoperatively

Anesth Analg. 2017 Nov;125(5):1749-1760. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002497.

Abstract

There is an epidemic of opioid use, abuse, and misuse in the United States, which results in significant morbidity and mortality. It may be difficult to reduce perioperative opioid use given known acute surgical trauma and resultant pain; however, the discrete and often limited nature of postoperative pain also may make management easier in part by utilizing nonopioid modalities, such as regional anesthesia/analgesia, and multimodal analgesia, which may decrease the need for powerful opioids. This article reviews the relevant literature describing the use of adjunct medications, regional anesthesia and analgesic techniques, and regional block additives in the context of providing adequate pain control while lessening opioid use.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / administration & dosage*
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / adverse effects
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage*
  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Substitution
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Nerve Block* / adverse effects
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / prevention & control*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy*
  • Pain, Postoperative / psychology
  • Perioperative Care
  • Prescription Drug Misuse / prevention & control*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • Analgesics, Opioid