Preoperative Opioid Use Disorder Is Associated With Poorer Outcomes After Coronary Bypass and Valve Surgery: A Multistate Analysis, 2007-2014.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of preoperative opioid use disorder (OUD) on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and heart valve surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study using data from the State Inpatient Database and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. SETTING: Inpatient data from Florida, California, New York, Maryland, and Kentucky between 2007 and 2014. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 377,771 CABG patients and 194,469 valve surgery patients age ≥18 years. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of OUD was 2,136 (0.57%) in the CABG group and 2,020 (1.04%) in the valve surgery group. There was no significant difference in mortality between the OUD and non-OUD groups in both surgical cohorts (both p > 0.05). On adjusted analyses, preoperative OUD was significantly associated with increased adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of 30-day hospital readmission (CABG aOR 1.47 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.30-1.66]; valve surgery aOR 1.41 [95% CI 1.27-1.56]) and 90-day hospital readmission (CABG aOR 1.47 [95% CI 1.31-1.64]; valve surgery aOR 1.33 [95% CI 1.23-1.43]). Preoperative OUD was significantly associated with increased adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) of hospital length of stay (CABG aRR 1.13 [95% CI 1.10-1.16]; valve surgery aRR 1.63 [95% CI 1.54-1.72]) and total hospitalization charges (CABG aRR 1.05 [95% CI 1.03-1.07]; valve surgery aRR 1.28 [95% CI 1.24-1.32]). CONCLUSION: Preoperative OUD is significantly associated with poorer outcomes after cardiac surgery, including increased 30- and 90-day readmissions, hospital length of stay, and total hospitalization charges. Opioid use should be considered a modifiable risk factor in cardiac surgery, and interventions should be attempted preoperatively.

Pre-existing opioid use disorder and postoperative outcomes after appendectomy or cholecystectomy: A multi-state analysis, 2007-2014.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Opioid use disorder has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Previous studies have shown that patients with opioid use disorder undergoing orthopedic, elective abdominopelvic, and cardiac procedures have poorer postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of pre-existing opioid use disorder on postoperative outcomes including in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), hospital readmission, and postoperative complications in patients undergoing appendectomy or cholecystectomy. METHODS: The authors used administrative data from the State Inpatient Databases of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for the years 2007-2014 from California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York. The authors compared unadjusted rates of in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, LOS, and 30-day and 90-day readmission status. The authors calculated the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for their outcomes using logistic regression models. RESULTS: In all, 488,981 appendectomy patients and 790,491 cholecystectomy patients aged ≥ 18 years were included in the analysis. Appendectomy (OR 2.26) but not cholecystectomy patients with opioid use disorder had statistically significant adjusted odds of in-hospital death. Patients with opioid use disorder (overall reported, and by each procedure separately) had higher adjusted odds of postoperative complication (OR 1.46), 30-day readmission (OR 1.80), 90-day readmission (OR 1.98), and longer LOS (OR 1.37). CONCLUSIONS: The authors found higher unadjusted rates and adjusted ORs of in-patient mortality, hospital readmission, and postoperative complications in patients with opioid use disorder undergoing common abdominal surgeries. The authors' study shows that opioid use disorder is a risk factor for poorer postoperative outcomes in this surgical patient population.

Medical therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) is a common post-operative cardiovascular complication and is associated with short and long-term mortality. The objective of this study was to describe the contemporary management of patients with and without MINS after total joint and spine orthopedic surgery at a large urban health system in the United States. METHODS: Adults admitted for total joint and major spine surgery from January 2013 through December 2015 with ≥1 cardiac troponin (cTn) measurement during their hospitalization were identified. MINS was defined by a peak cTn above the 99th percentile of the upper reference limit. Demographics, medical comorbidities, and admission and discharge medications were reviewed for all patients. RESULTS: A total of 2561 patients underwent 2798 orthopedic surgeries, and 236 cases of MINS were identified. Patients with MINS were older (71.9 ±â€¯10.9 vs. 67.0 ±â€¯10.0, p < 0.001) and more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, prior stroke, coronary artery disease, prior MI, and a history of heart failure. Among patients with MINS, only 112 (47.5%) were discharged on a combination of aspirin and statin. Patients with MINS were more likely to be prescribed a statin (154 [65.3%] vs. 1463 [57.1%], p = 0.018), beta-blocker (147 [62.3%] vs. 1194 [46.6%], p < 0.001), and oral anticoagulation (65 [27.5%] vs. 436 [17.0%], p < 0.001) than patients without MINS. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of patients with MINS who were prescribed medical therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was low. Additional efforts to determine optimal management of MINS are warranted.

New York Physicians' Perspectives and Knowledge of the State Medical Marijuana Program.

Introduction: In 2014, New York (NY) became the 23rd state to legalize medical marijuana (MMJ). The purpose of this survey was to collect data about practicing NY physicians' comfort level, opinions, and experience in recommending or supporting patient use of MMJ. Materials and Methods: An anonymous web-based survey was distributed to medical societies and to academic departments in medical schools within NY. Results: A total of 164 responses were analyzed. Physician participants were primarily located in New York City and surrounding areas. The majority (71%) agreed that MMJ should be an option available to patients. Most respondents were not registered to certify MMJ in NY, but were willing to refer patients to registered physicians. Common reasons for not registering included specialty and federal status of cannabis. More than 75% reported having patients who used cannabis for symptom control, and 50% reported having patients who inquired about MMJ within the past year. Most respondents are willing to discuss MMJ with their patients, but had little familiarity with the state program and a modest knowledge of the endocannabinoid system. Pain was a common symptom for which cannabis was recommended by registered physicians (69%) and purportedly used by patients (83%). Most respondents would consider MMJ as an adjuvant to opioids, and 84% believed opioids have greater risks than MMJ. Conclusion: Given that the majority of surveyed physicians support MMJ as an option for patients, few are registered and have adequate knowledge of MMJ. Although our study sample is small and geographically limited, our survey results highlight key physician issues that are likely applicable to practitioners in other states. Concerted efforts are needed at the federal, state, and academic levels to provide practitioners with evidence-based guidelines for the safe use of MMJ.