E-Posters-Effects of Analgesia Pre-Medication on Post-Operative Recovery in the Outpatient Surgery Setting

Effects of Analgesia Pre-Medication on Post-Operative Recovery in the Outpatient Surgery Setting - Stephanie J Handler, MD

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This study examined the effects of pre-operative non-narcotic analgesia on post-operative recovery in the outpatient surgery setting. The researchers found that pre-operative non-narcotic analgesia can reduce the amount of post-operative narcotic administration, potentially leading to shorter hospital stays, improved patient recovery, and lower healthcare costs. However, the study also found that pre-operative non-narcotics were associated with a decreased length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) but not with decreased narcotic administration. The small sample size and other factors, such as the culture in the institution's PACU, could have influenced these results. The study emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary involvement and standardization of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol within individual institutions. <br /><br />The study included medical records of 50 women who underwent outpatient gynecologic procedures. Comparisons were made between patients who received pre-operative non-narcotic analgesics and those who did not. The results showed that pre-medicated patients received slightly higher doses of IV hydromorphone (or its equivalent) in the PACU compared to non-pre-medicated patients. However, pre-medicated patients had a significantly shorter length of stay in the PACU compared to non-pre-medicated patients. The study estimated that the PACU stay costs $2.67 per minute, and the cost of the PACU stay for non-pre-medicated patients was $211.73 less than that for pre-medicated patients. <br /><br />In terms of demographics, there were no significant differences between the pre-medicated and non-pre-medicated groups in terms of age, BMI, menopausal status, type of anesthesia, and type of procedure. The study background also noted that pain control in the PACU is sometimes suboptimal, leading to the administration of narcotics. However, narcotics can have adverse effects on the recovery process, such as nausea, dizziness, sedation, respiratory depression, itching, and constipation. <br /><br />Overall, this study highlights the potential benefits of using pre-operative non-narcotic analgesia in improving post-operative recovery in the outpatient surgery setting.

Keywords

pre-operative non-narcotic analgesia

post-operative recovery

outpatient surgery setting

narcotic administration

hospital stays

improved patient recovery

PACU

enhanced recovery after surgery

medical records

pain control