Variation in opioid prescribing patterns between ED providers.

Abuse of opioid prescription drugs has become an epidemic across the developed world. Despite the fact that emergency physicians overall account for a small proportion of total opioids prescribed, the number of prescriptions has risen dramatically in the past decade and, to some degree, contributes to the available supply of opioids in the community, some of which are diverted for non-medical use. Since successfully reducing opioid prescribing on the individual level first requires knowledge of current prescribing patterns, we sought to determine to what extent variation exists in opioid prescribing patterns at our institution. This was a single-institution observational study at a community hospital with an annual ED volume of 47,000 visits. We determined the number of prescriptions written by each provider, both total number and accounting for the number of patients seen. Our primary outcome measure was the level of variation at the physician level for number of prescriptions written per patient. We also identified the mean number of pills written per prescription. We analyzed data from November 13, 2014 through July 31, 2015 for 21 full-time providers. There were a total of 2211 prescriptions for opioids written over this time period for a total of 17,382 patients seen. On a per-patient basis, the rate of opioid prescriptions written per patient during this period was 127 per 1000 visits (95 % CI 122-132). There was a variation on the individual provider level, with rates ranging from 33 per to 332 per 1000 visits. There was also substantial variation by provider in the number of pills written per prescription with coefficient of variation (standard deviation divided by mean) averaged over different opioids ranging from 16 to 40 %. There was significant variation in opioid prescribing patterns at the individual physician level, even when accounting for the number of patients seen.

Postendarterectomy Cerebral Hyperperfusion Syndrome: The Etiological Significance of "Cerebral Reserve".

Postoperative cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) in patients undergoing carotid intervention is thought to be related to the absence of cerebral reserve. Although hyperperfusion syndrome is rare, severe postoperative headache is common and is considered to be a prodromal sign. Cerebral reserve is measured by studying the response of cerebral vessels to a vasodilator such as hypercarbia. We produced hypercarbia by holding respiration for 60 seconds during carotid endarterectomy. We attempted to evaluate the relationship between intraoperatively evaluated cerebral reserve and the development of postoperative headache which was severe enough to require the patient to take an over the counter analgesic (e.g., ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin). Internal carotid artery flow 1 (F1), Pco 2, and blood pressure 1 (BP1) were recorded before and after (F2, Pco 2, and BP2) 60 seconds of apnea. An increase in flow of > 20% was considered indicative of adequate cerebral reserve. Patients were evaluated before discharge and with follow-up calls at 2 to 5 days postdischarge. Fisher exact test was used to evaluate categorical predictors. Unpaired t test was used to compare continuous variables. Results were considered significant when p < 0.05. A total of 30 nonconsecutive patients were evaluated prospectively. Of the 30 patients, 4 (Group I) developed severe postoperative headache; 26 did not (Group II). Demographics were similar in both the groups. Three patients in Group I and 16 patients in Group II had > 20% increase in flow (p = 0.6315). Pco 2 rose in both groups and BP2 was unchanged from BP1 in both groups. Lack of cerebral reserve does not appear to be related to the development of severe postoperative headache.