Opioid Reduction Toolkit Reduces Opioids Prescribed and Consumed

Successful Implementation of an Opioid Reduction Toolkit in Pancreatectomy Patients Significantly Decreases Number of Opioids Prescribed and Consumed

Investigators studied a baseline population of patients receiving pancreatectomies at their institution and determined how many opioid pills each patient was prescribed and how many they took. Based on this data they created a toolkit to provide to prescribers to give patients a modified number of pills. The amount prescribed and consumed was measured after intervention.

A single academic surgical department reviewed opioid treatment patterns for patients undergoing common procedures, including open pancreatectomy, and an opioid reduction toolkit using the data collected was created. Providers were educated on the use of the toolkit and it was implemented as a standard of practice. Data were collected on pancreatectomy patients via telephone interview (performed at 2 weeks post-op) and by reviewing the state prescription drug monitoring program. Outcome variables included morphine milliequivalents (MME) of pills prescribed, MME of pills consumed, number of patients aware of proper unused pill disposal, number of patients requesting refills, and pain scores. Categorical and continuous outcomes were compared within and between groups.

Patients will be interviewed fourteen days after procedure and asked how many opioid pills they have taken since being discharged form the hospitals

Discharge paperwork and prescription information will be searched to determine the number of opioid pills were provided to the patient at discharge

Inclusion Criteria: Age > 18 Being scheduled for an outpatient elective pancreatectomy Exclusion Criteria: Urgent/emergent status Concomitant procedure being performed at time of pancreatectomy