Independent Factors Associated With Opioid Refills After Inpatient Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

What factors are associated with opioid refill prescriptions within 90 days after discharge from otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS), a critical transitional phase from short-term to persistent postsurgical opioid use?In this cohort study of 4132 adult patients who underwent OHNS from 2017 to 2023, independent preoperative, postoperative, and postdischarge factors were associated with opioid refills at 1 to 30, 31 to 60, and 61 to 90 days after discharge. Improvements and setbacks in postsurgical pain management were also identified.These findings highlight the potential benefit of having a comprehensive perioperative strategy to reduce opioid refills after inpatient OHNS procedures.

Corresponding Author: Zhonghui Guan, MD, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, 520 Illinois St, San Francisco, CA 94158 (zhonghui.guan@ucsf.edu).

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