A retrospective analysis of perioperative medications for opioid‐use disorder and tapering additional postsurgical opioids via a transitional pain service

Abstract

AimsTo investigate perioperative opioid requirements in patients on methadone or buprenorphine as medication for opioid‐use disorder (MOUD) who attended a transitional pain clinic (Personalized Pain Program, PPP).MethodsThis retrospective cohort study assessed adults on MOUD with surgery and attendance at the Johns Hopkins PPP between 2017 and 2022. Daily non‐MOUD opioid use over 6 time‐points was evaluated with regression models controlling for days since surgery. The time to complete non‐MOUD opioid taper was analysed by accelerated failure time and Kaplan–Meier models.ResultsFifty patients (28 on methadone, 22 on buprenorphine) were included with a median age of 44.3 years, 54% male, 62% Caucasian and 54% unemployed. MOUD inpatient administration occurred in 92.8% of patients on preoperative methadone but only in 36.3% of patients on preoperative buprenorphine. Non‐MOUD opioid use decreased over time postoperatively (β = −0.54, P < .001) with a median decrease of 90 mg morphine equivalents (MME) between the first and last PPP visit, resulting in 46% tapered off by PPP completion. Older age and duration in PPP were associated with lower MME, while mental health conditions, longer hospital stays and higher discharge opioid prescriptions were associated with higher MME. The average time to non‐MOUD opioid taper was 1.79× longer in patients on buprenorphine (P = .026), 2.75× in males (P = .023), 4.66× with mental health conditions (P < .001), 2.37× with chronic pain (P = .031) and 3.51× if on preoperative non‐MOUD opioids; however, higher initial MOUD level decreased time to taper (P = .001).ConclusionsPostoperative opioid tapering utilizing a transitional pain service is possible in patients on MOUD.