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Am J Perinatol 2021; 38(13): 1341-1347
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1732378
SMFM Fellowship Series Article

The Association between Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery after Cesarean Pathway with Standardized Discharge Prescriptions and Opioid Use and Pain Experience after Cesarean Delivery

Jennifer A. McCoy 
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
,
Sarah Gutman
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
,
Rebecca F. Hamm
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
,
Sindhu K. Srinivas
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Abstract

Objective This study was aimed to evaluate opioid use after cesarean delivery (CD) and to assess implementation of an enhanced recovery after CD (ERAS-CD) pathway and its association with inpatient and postdischarge pain control and opioid use.

Study Design We conducted a baseline survey of women who underwent CD from January to March 2017 at a single, urban academic hospital. Patients were called 5 to 8 days after discharge and asked about their pain and postdischarge opioid use. An ERAS-CD pathway was implemented as a quality improvement initiative, including use of nonopioid analgesia and standardization of opioid discharge prescriptions to ≤25 tablets of oxycodone of 5 mg. From November to January 2019, a postimplementation survey was conducted to assess the association between this initiative and patients' pain control and postoperative opioid use, both inpatient and postdischarge.

Results Data were obtained from 152 women preimplementation (PRE) and 137 women post-implementation (POST); complete survey data were obtained from 102 women PRE and 98 women POST. The median inpatient morphine milligram equivalents consumed per patient decreased significantly from 141 [range: 90–195] PRE to 114 [range: 45–168] POST (p = 0.002). On a 0- to 10-point scale, median patient-reported pain scores at discharge decreased significantly (PRE: 7 [range: 5–8] vs. POST 5 [range: 3–7], p < 0.001). The median number of pills consumed after discharge also decreased significantly (PRE: 25 [range: 16–30] vs. POST 17.5 [range: 4–25], p = 0.001). The number of pills consumed was significantly associated with number prescribed (p < 0.001). The median number of leftover pills and number of refills did not significantly differ between groups. Median patient-reported pain scores at the week after discharge were lower in the POST group (PRE: 4 [range: 2–6] vs. POST 3[range: 1–5], p = 0.03).

Conclusion Implementing an ERAS-CD pathway was associated with a significant decrease in inpatient and postdischarge opioid consumption while improving pain control. Our data suggest that even fewer pills could be prescribed for some patients.

Key Points

  • An ERAS-CD pathway was associated with decreased opioid use.

  • Outpatient opioid consumption after cesarean warrants further study.

  • Physician prescribing drives patients' opioid consumption.

Keywords

opioid - cesarean - ERAS - pain

Note

This work was presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's 40th Annual Pregnancy Meeting, Grapevine, Texas, February 3–8, 2020.




Publication History

Received: 16 October 2020

Accepted: 17 June 2021

Article published online:
19 July 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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