Opioid-sparing Anesthesia Decreases In-hospital and 1-year Postoperative Opioid Consumption Compared With Traditional Anesthesia

Abstract

Study Design. Propensity-matched cohort. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine if opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA) reduces in-hospital and 1-year postoperative opioid consumption. Summary of Background Data. The recent opioid crisis highlights the need to reduce opioid exposure. We developed an OSA protocol for lumbar spinal fusion surgery to mitigate opioid exposure. Materials and Methods. Patients undergoing lumbar fusion for degenerative conditions over one to four levels were identified. Patients taking opioids preoperatively were excluded. OSA patients were propensity-matched to non-OSA patients based on age, sex, smoking status, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, and revision versus primary procedure. Standard demographic and surgical data, daily in-hospital opioid consumption, and opioid prescriptions 1 year after surgery were compared. Results. Of 296 OSA patients meeting inclusion criteria, 172 were propensity-matched to non-OSA patients. Demographics were similar between cohorts (OSA: 77 males, mean age=57.69 yr; non-OSA: 67 males, mean age=58.94 yr). OSA patients had lower blood loss (326 mL vs. 399 mL, P=0.014), surgical time (201 vs. 233 min, P<0.001) emergence to extubation time (9.1 vs. 14.2 min, P<0.001), and recovery room time (119 vs. 140 min, P=0.0.012) compared with non-OSA patients. Fewer OSA patients required nonhome discharge (18 vs. 41, P=0.001) compared with the non-OSA cohort, but no difference in length of stay (90.3 vs. 98.5 h, P=0.204). Daily opioid consumption was lower in the OSA versus the non-OSA cohort from postoperative day 2 (223 vs. 185 morphine milligram equivalents, P=0.017) and maintained each day with lower total consumption (293 vs. 225 morphine milligram equivalents, P=0.003) throughout postoperative day 4. The number of patients with active opioid prescriptions at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperative was statistically fewer in the OSA compared with the non-OSA patients. Conclusions. OSA for lumbar spinal fusion surgery decreases in-hospital and 1-year postoperative opioid consumption. The minimal use of opioids may also lead to shorter emergence to extubation times, shorter recovery room stays, and fewer discharges to nonhome facilities.