buprenorphine--naloxone-drug-combination and Pain--Postoperative

With the widespread growth of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the number and diversity of operations performed in the outpatient setting continue to increase. In parallel, there is an increase in the proportion of patients with a history of chronic opioid use and misuse undergoing elective surgery. Patients with such opioid tolerance present a unique challenge in the ambulatory setting, given their increased requirement for postoperative opioids. Guidelines for managing perioperative pain, anticipating postoperative opioid requirements and a discharge plan to wean off of opioids, are therefore needed.. Expert guidelines suggest using multimodal analgesia including non-opioid analgesics and regional/neuraxial anesthesia whenever possible. However, there exists variability in care, resulting in challenges in perioperative pain management. In a recent study of same-day admission patients, anesthesiologists correctly identified most opioid-tolerant patients, but used non-opioid analgesics only half the time. The concept of a focused ambulatory pain specialist on site at each ASC has been suggested, who in addition to providing safe anesthesia, could intervene early once problematic pain issues are recognized. This review focuses on perioperative pain management in three subsets of patients who exhibit opioid tolerance: those on large doses of opioids (including abuse-deterrent formulations) for chronic non-malignant or malignant pain; those who have ongoing opioid misuse; and those who were prior addicts and are now on methadone/suboxone maintenance. We also discuss perioperative pain management for patients who have implanted devices such as spinal cord stimulators and intrathecal pain pumps.

Topics: Acute Pain; Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthesia, Conduction; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Chronic Pain; Drug Tolerance; Humans; Methadone; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pain, Postoperative; Perioperative Care; Surgicenters

In Australia and New Zealand, in parallel with other developed countries, the number of patients prescribed opioids on a long-term basis has grown rapidly over the last decade. The burden of chronic pain is more widely recognised and there has been an increase in the use of opioids for both cancer and non-cancer indications. While the prevalence of illicit opioid use has remained relatively stable, the diversion and abuse of prescription opioids has escalated, as has the number of individuals receiving methadone or buprenorphine pharmacotherapy for opioid addiction. As a result, the proportion of opioid-tolerant patients requiring acute pain management has increased, often presenting clinicians with greater challenges than those faced when treating the opioid-naïve. Treatment aims include effective relief of acute pain, prevention of drug withdrawal, assistance with any related social, psychiatric and behavioural issues, and ensuring continuity of long-term care. Pharmacological approaches incorporate the continuation of usual medications (or equivalent), short-term use of sometimes much higher than average doses of additional opioid, and prescription of non-opioid and adjuvant drugs, aiming to improve pain relief and attenuate opioid tolerance and/or opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Discharge planning should commence at an early stage and may involve the use of a 'Reverse Pain Ladder' aiming to limit duration of additional opioid use. Legislative requirements may restrict which drugs can be prescribed at the time of hospital discharge. At all stages, there should be appropriate and regular consultation and liaison with the patient, other treating teams and specialist services.

Topics: Acute Disease; Analgesics; Analgesics, Opioid; Animals; Australia; Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Drug Tolerance; Humans; Hyperalgesia; Illicit Drugs; Methadone; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; New Zealand; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pain; Pain, Postoperative; Patient Discharge; Preoperative Care; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Humans; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pain Management; Pain, Postoperative; Perioperative Period

Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, displaces full opioid agonists from receptors and may impede surgical pain management. We report the effects of a sublingual formulation of buprenorphine-naloxone, Suboxone (SL-BUP), on perioperative pain management.. We identified all adult surgical patients from December 31, 2004, to January 1, 2016, who received SL-BUP within 30 days prior to procedures performed with general, regional, or combined general/regional anesthesia. We recorded opioid use during the procedure, in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and during the 24 h following PACU discharge. We also examined opioid use in those who continued SL-BUP until the day of surgery vs those who preoperatively discontinued SL-BUP.. Thirty-two patients were treated preoperatively with SL-BUP. Three patients had regional anesthesia only, and opioid requirements were case dependent. Requirements were minimal for creation of an arteriovenous fistula and high following knee replacement and cesarean section. Twelve patients received combined general/regional anesthesia, and 17 received general anesthesia only. Intraoperative and PACU opioid use in these 2 groups were not significantly different (P = .10 and P = .93, respectively). In both groups opioid use increased after discharge from the PACU, and remained comparable between the general and combined general/regional group through the first 24 h after PACU discharge (P = .78). Although median [interquartile range] 24-h opioid doses were higher among patients who discontinued SL-BUP, the difference was not statistically significant in the general anesthesia-only group (SL-BUP discontinued, 199 [110-411] mg IV-MEq [intravenous morphine equivalent] vs SL-BUP continued, 106 [58-160] mg IV-MEq; P = .15) or in the combined general/regional group (SL-BUP discontinued, 140 [100-157] mg IV-MEq vs SL-BUP continued, 100 [73-203] mg IV-MEq; P = .94).. Regardless of the type of anesthesia used, physicians treating patients with SL-BUP must be prepared to administer large doses of opioids during the early postoperative period. No difference in opioid requirements was noted between patients who perioperatively stopped SL-BUP versus those who continued SL-BUP.

Topics: Administration, Sublingual; Analgesics, Opioid; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Male; Pain Management; Pain, Postoperative; Perioperative Care; Retrospective Studies

Buprenorphine maintenance therapy patients frequently have severe postoperative pain due to buprenorphine-induced hyperalgesia and provider use of opioids with limited efficacy in the presence of buprenorphine. The authors report good-to-excellent pain management in 4 obstetric patients using nonopioid analgesics, regional anesthesia, continuation of buprenorphine, and use of opioids with high μ receptor affinity.

Topics: Adult; Analgesia, Obstetrical; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthetics, Local; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Cesarean Section, Repeat; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Narcotic Antagonists; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pain Management; Pain Measurement; Pain Perception; Pain Threshold; Pain, Postoperative; Pregnancy; Sterilization, Tubal; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Buprenorphine is a semisynthetic opioid with both agonist and antagonist activity at the opioid receptor. Currently, buprenorphine is commonly available in sublingual preparations combined with naloxone (e.g., Suboxone®, Subutex®). There has been increased use of buprenorphine derivatives in the areas of substance addiction and chronic pain. Nevertheless, there is limited and conflicting information in the literature pertaining to the optimal management of buprenorphine-stabilized patients presenting for surgery. We present our experience with a chronic pain patient on buprenorphine presenting for thoracic surgery.. A 47-yr-old female with a history of a Clagett window procedure for pulmonary aspergillosis and subsequent chronic pain presented to our institute for a window closure procedure. Preoperatively, her pain regimen included Suboxone 16 mg bid, which was continued perioperatively. Postoperatively, her course was complicated by suboptimal pain at the surgical site requiring in excess of 70 mg/24 hr of intravenous hydromorphone. Liberal addition of long-acting oral opioids was ineffective in improving pain management. Eventually, concern was raised regarding opioid receptor blockade by her long-acting Suboxone, and the decision was made to taper her Suboxone. Following this, her pain control improved dramatically and her opioid requirements were markedly reduced. By discharge, her Suboxone was discontinued and she was managed on oral hydromorphone.. In a chronic pain patient continued on Suboxone perioperatively, significant improvement in control of postoperative pain was observed following tapered doses, and eventually her use of Suboxone was discontinued. This case highlights the potential for opioid receptor blockade by Suboxone, which can interfere with acute pain management.

Topics: Buprenorphine; Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination; Chronic Pain; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Naloxone; Pain, Postoperative; Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Thoracic Surgical Procedures