Perioperative opioids: a narrative review contextualising new avenues to improve prescribing.

Opioids have dominated the management of perioperative pain in recent decades with higher doses than ever before used in some circumstances. Through the expanding use of opioids, growing research has highlighted their associated side-effects and the intertwined phenomena of acute withdrawal syndrome, opioid tolerance, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. With multiple clinical guidelines now endorsing multimodal analgesia, a diverse array of opioid-sparing agents emerges and has been studied to variable degrees, including techniques of opioid-free anaesthesia. It remains unclear to what extent such methods should be adopted, yet current evidence does suggest dependence on opioids as the primary perioperative analgesic might not meet the principles of 'rational prescribing' as described by Maxwell. In this narrative review we describe how, using current evidence, a patient-centred rational-prescribing approach can be applied to opioids in the perioperative period. To contextualise this approach, we discuss the historical adoption of opioids in anaesthesia, our growing understanding of associated side-effects and emerging strategies of opioid-sparing and opioid-free anaesthesia. We discuss avenues and challenges for improving opioid prescribing to limit persistent postoperative opioid use and how these may be incorporated into a rational-prescribing approach.

Views, Experiences, and Challenges of Anesthetists and Anesthesia Technologists on Parental Presence During Induction of Anesthesia in Children: A Mixed Method Study.

Introduction: Parental presence during induction of anesthesia (PPIA) has a potential positive impact on the pediatric patient, parents, and anesthesia staff. Several studies have explored the effectiveness of PPIA. However, there are no recent studies that explore the anesthesia staff's views, experiences, and challenges toward PPIA. The aim of this study was to discover the views, experiences, and challenges of anesthetists and anesthesia technologists regarding PPIA within a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study followed a mixed-method design with a qualitative descriptive approach. A methodologic triangulation of data collection, comprising phase one, quantitative Likert-scale questionnaires, and phase two, qualitative semi-structured interviews. Thirteen anesthetic practitioners were recruited in the questionnaire phase, and then six anesthetic practitioners participated in the interviews. The quantitative data set was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and results are given using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data set used thematic analysis and results are given using themes and participants' quotes. Results: The data analysis identified representative themes and revealed no major differences in the opinions and experiences of anesthetists and anesthesia technologists on PPIA support. Based on the anesthesia staff's experiences, they believed in PPIA benefits, such as reduction in sedation use, minimizing the child's anxiety, and enhanced level of cooperation with the staff. Several points were raised indicating that there were challenges of PPIA with anxious parents and hospital policy being the main concern. Conclusion: The study provides evidence from anesthetic practitioners that PPIA is seen in a positive light within the Saudi hospital. The study's findings support further research to improve pediatric anesthesia practice, including a review of the hospital guidelines and policy.