An expert panel consensus on opioid-prescribing guidelines for dermatologic procedures

Liposomal and Nonliposomal Bupivacaine for Mohs Surgery: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Lidocaine is the most commonly used local anesthetic for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), but given its limited half-life, postoperative pain remains a significant concern for patients. Bupivacaine is used in various surgical subspecialty procedures and has demonstrated improved pain control compared with lidocaine. However, its role in MMS is insufficiently explored.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the current literature for reports on use of bupivacaine, traditional nonliposomal and newer liposomal formulations, for MMS.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. The MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE databases were queried for articles presenting original data on the use of bupivacaine for MMS.

RESULTS

Of 483 potentially relevant articles, 3 studies met final inclusion criteria, capturing a total of 253 patients involved in primary investigations comparing bupivacaine to traditional local anesthesia for MMS. Bupivacaine was well-tolerated and associated with comparable or modestly reduced intraoperative and postoperative pain and opioid use.

CONCLUSION

Bupivacaine may have a role in prolonging intraoperative anesthesia, reducing acute postoperative pain, and reducing postoperative opioid use after MMS. However, large, prospective studies are needed to solidify the generalizability and clinical utility of these findings.

Appendectomy Pain Medication Prescribing Variation in the U.S. Military Health System

INTRODUCTION

Post-appendectomy opioid prescription practices may vary widely across and within health care systems. Although guidelines encourage conservative opioid prescribing and prescribing of non-opioid pain medications, the variation of prescribing practices and the probability of opioid refill remain unknown in the U.S. Military Health System.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective observational cohort study evaluated medical data of 11,713 patients who received an appendectomy in the Military Health System between January 2016 and June 2021. Linear-mixed and generalized linear-mixed models evaluated the relationships between patient-, care-, and system-level factors and the two primary outcomes; the morphine equivalent dose (MED) at hospital discharge; and the probability of 30-day opioid prescription refill. Sensitivity analyses repeated the generalized linear-mixed model predicting the probability of opioid (re)fill after an appendectomy, but with inclusion of the full sample, including patients who had not received a discharge opioid prescription (e.g., 0 mg MED).

RESULTS

Discharge MED was twice the recommended guidance and was not associated with opioid refill. Higher discharge MED was associated with opioid/non-opioid combination prescription (+38 mg) relative to opioid-only, lack of non-opioid prescribing at discharge (+6 mg), care received before a Defense Health Agency opioid safety policy was released (+61 mg), documented nicotine dependence (+8 mg), and pre-appendectomy opioid prescription (+5 mg) (all P < .01). Opioid refill was more likely for patients with complicated appendicitis (OR = 1.34; P < .01); patients assigned female (OR = 1.25, P < .01); those with a documented mental health diagnosis (OR = 1.32, P = .03), an antidepressant prescription (OR = 1.84, P < .001), or both (OR = 1.54, P < .001); and patients with documented nicotine dependence (OR = 1.53, P < .001). Opioid refill was less likely for patients who received care after the Defense Health Agency policy was released (OR = 0.71, P < .001), were opioid naive (OR = 0.54, P < .001), or were Asian or Pacific Islander (relative to white patients, OR = 0.68, P = .04). Results from the sensitivity analyses were similar to the main analysis, aside from two exceptions. The probability of refill no longer differed by race and ethnicity or mental health condition only.

CONCLUSIONS

Individual prescriber practices shifted with new guidelines, but potentially unwarranted variation in opioid prescribing dose remained. Future studies may benefit from evaluating patients' experiences with pain management, satisfaction, and patient-centered education after appendectomy within the context of opioid prescribing practices, amount of medications used, and refill probability. Such could pave a way for standardized patient-centered procedures that both decrease unwarranted prescribing pattern variability and optimize pain management regimens.

Multiorganizational consensus to define guiding principles for perioperative pain management in patients with chronic pain, preoperative opioid tolerance, or substance use disorder

Significant knowledge gaps exist in the perioperative pain management of patients with a history of chronic pain, substance use disorder, and/or opioid tolerance as highlighted in the US Health and Human Services Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force 2019 report. The report emphasized the challenges of caring for these populations and the need for multidisciplinary care and a comprehensive approach. Such care requires stakeholder alignment across multiple specialties and care settings. With the intention of codifying this alignment into a reliable and efficient processes, a consortium of 15 professional healthcare societies was convened in a year-long modified Delphi consensus process and summit. This process produced seven guiding principles for the perioperative care of patients with chronic pain, substance use disorder, and/or preoperative opioid tolerance. These principles provide a framework and direction for future improvement in the optimization and care of 'complex' patients as they undergo surgical procedures.

Bupivacaine to Reduce Pain and Narcotic Use After Mohs Micrographic Surgery

BACKGROUND

Limited data exists for bupivacaine injection after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS).

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate how bupivacaine affects postoperative pain and narcotic use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this multicenter, single-blinded, prospective randomized controlled trial, patients received bupivacaine or saline (placebo) immediately after MMS with flap reconstructions identified by American Academy of Dermatology expert consensus as high-risk for pain and narcotic use. For 48 hours postoperatively, patients logged analgesic use, pain scores (0-10), and whether pain was controlled.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-four patients were included. Narcotic analgesic use was higher in the placebo group during the first 24 hours (odds ratio 2.18; confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-4.41; p = .03), second 24 hours (odds ratio 2.18; CI: 0.91-5.29; p = .08), and 48 hours combined (odds ratio 2.58; CI: 1.28-5.24; p < .01). Pain scores were lower in the bupivacaine group during the first 8 hours (mean difference 1.6; CI: 0.73-2.38; p < .001). Overall analgesic use (narcotic and non-narcotic) and percentage of patients reporting pain under control were similar between groups. There were no significant differences in demographics or surgical characteristics. No adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSION

Single-dose bupivacaine decreased postoperative pain and narcotic analgesic use after MMS with reconstructions likely to cause significant pain. Bupivacaine may have a role in postoperative pain management and reducing narcotic use in this population.

Practice Patterns for Mohs Surgeons of Varying Clinical Experience: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Medicare Claims Database

BACKGROUND

Use of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is highly prevalent, but little data are available on how surgeon experience affects surgical practice patterns.

OBJECTIVE

To determine differences in use of MMS among surgeons of varying experience.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study sampled from clinicians billing ≥200 mean annual Mohs surgery claims from the 2012 to 2018 Medicare Public Use File. The primary outcome was mean annual Mohs surgery claims for clinicians of varying experience. Secondary outcomes included use of flaps/grafts and prescribing of oral antibiotics, benzodiazepines, and opioids.

RESULTS

Among 1,759 unique surgeons, those with 16 to 20 years of experience performed the most mean annual (95% confidence interval) Mohs surgical cases (578.7 [556.7-600.6]). Surgeons with 21 to 25 years of experience prescribed the most antibiotics (240.2 [216.5-263.8] mean annual claims), whereas those with >35 years of experience prescribed the longest courses (15.3 [14.2-16.4] days).

CONCLUSION

Midcareer surgeons performed the most mean annual Mohs surgery cases, whereas later career surgeons prescribed more frequent and longer courses of antibiotics suggesting changing practice patterns with additional years of experience.

Are we contributing to the opioid epidemic? A systematic review on systemic opioid use in dermatology

BACKGROUND

Although dermatologists treat many painful skin conditions and perform procedures that may require analgesic use, there is a lack of evidence synthesis on opioid use in dermatology.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review of the evidence on the use of opioid analgesics in dermatology.

METHODS

We applied the PRISMA guidelines and systematically reviewed literature that examined opioid use in dermatology published between 1980 and 2020 in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020204864).

RESULTS

We identified 24 studies that analyzed 52,705,201 patients and 13,099 dermatologists. Between 34% and 87.5% of patients received opioids following dermatologic procedures; however, many did not use the entirety of their prescriptions, and 35-69% did not use any of their prescription. Top opioid prescribers were more likely to be Mohs surgeons, male, and practice in the South. Variability exists in the current evidence for opioid prescribing for nonprocedural dermatologic disease.

CONCLUSION

While opioid prescribing in dermatology is low compared with other specialties, patients are not utilizing the entirety of their prescriptions. Opioid prescribing for nonprocedural dermatologic disease varies; treatments focused on targeting the pathogenesis of these diseases is important to minimize opioid use. Dermatologists should consider limiting opioid prescribing and utilizing nonnarcotic analgesics.

Rates of Opioid Prescriptions Obtained After Mohs Surgery: A Claims Database Analysis From 2009 to 2020

Importance

To curtail the opioid epidemic, physicians have been advised to limit opioid prescriptions.

Objective

To characterize the frequency and changes over time (2009-2020) of opioid prescriptions following Mohs micrographic surgery.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study using Optum Clinformatics DataMart (Optum CDM), a nationally representative insurance claims database, included patients aged 18 years and older who had Mohs micrographic surgery insurance claims in the Optum CDM database from 2009 to 2020. Data were analyzed from November 11, 2020, to March 30, 2021.

Exposures

Opioid prescription following Mohs surgery.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who underwent Mohs surgery and obtained an opioid prescription within 2 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes included type and opioid quantity prescribed.

Results

Among 358 012 patients with Mohs micrographic surgery claims (mean [SD] age, 69 [13] years; 205 609 [57.4%] were men), the proportion of patients obtaining an opioid prescription after Mohs micrographic surgery increased from 2009 (34.6%) to 2011 (39.6%). This proportion then declined each year, reaching a low of 11.7% in 2020 (27.9% absolute decrease from 2011 to 2020). Hydrocodone, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol were the 4 most commonly prescribed opioids. By 2020, hydrocodone was obtained less (2009: 47.5%; 2011: 67.1%; 2020: 45.4%; 21.7% absolute decrease from 2011 to 2020) and tramadol was obtained more (2009: 1.6%; 2020: 27.9%; 26.3% absolute increase from 2009 to 2020).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study of Mohs micrographic surgery claims, patients obtained fewer postsurgery opioid prescriptions over the study period, suggesting responsiveness of patients and dermatologic surgeons to public health concerns regarding the opioid epidemic. During this decline, prescriptions for hydrocodone decreased and tramadol increased.

Managing pain associated with dermatologic procedures

Dermatologists are faced with an aging population, accompanied by an increase in the incidence of skin cancer, especially nonmelanoma skin cancer. With this increase in cutaneous malignancy comes an increase in the number of dermatologic procedures being performed. A common concern of dermatologists and dermatology patients is the attenuation and management of pain associated with dermatologic procedures. Fortunately, there are several techniques that may be used in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods to manage patient anxiety, minimize injection pain, and safely and effectively treat postoperative pain.