Surgical Patient Compliance With Healthcare Facility-Provided In-home Opioid Disposal Products: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding the use of an in-home opioid disposal product on unused opioids after surgery. BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic in the United States is a major cause of concern for healthcare facilities. The misuse and diversion of retained opioids after a surgical procedure continues to contribute to this problem. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, OVID, and PubMed databases with keywords including opioid, analgesics, narcotics, medical waste disposal, medical disposal, refuse disposal, and opioid disposal resulted in 286 articles. Articles were screened based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Eight studies determined that an in-home opioid disposal product provided by a healthcare facility produced rates of opioid disposal between 19% and 71%. CONCLUSIONS: The provision of an in-home opioid disposal product by a healthcare facility is likely to increase the disposal of unused opioid medications in the postoperative surgical patient population.

The Role of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Led Acute Pain Service in Preventing Persistent Postoperative Opioid Use.

Given the present opioid crisis, the use of opioids in the hospital setting is an increasing concern among hospital administrators and healthcare professionals. A serious problem related to surgical care is persistent postoperative opioid use among previously opioid-naïve patients. Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are strategically positioned within the hospital setting to address these concerns. These individuals are actively involved in managing the pain of their patients and can therefore lead change in relation to the opioid crisis. This article profiles a multidisciplinary acute pain service developed in a Magnet redesignated hospital led by CRNAs that has demonstrated positive outcomes in decreasing the use of opioids postprocedure and postdischarge, education for healthcare providers, information for community members related to opioid abuse, and support of new protocols, including Enhanced Recovery After Surgery.