Opioid Consumption After Urogynecologic Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter Observational Study Using a Text-Messaging Survey Tool.

IMPORTANCE: Understanding postoperative opioid consumption is key to reducing opioid misuse.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to quantify the amount of outpatient opioids consumed after urogynecologic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective multicenter cohort study sponsored by the American Urogynecologic Society Fellow's Pelvic Research Network. Women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence surgery between May 2019 and January 2021 were included. Patients used text messaging to report daily opioid consumption, pain levels, and nonopioid analgesic consumption 2 weeks postoperatively. Demographic and perioperative factors associated with high opioid use (>75th percentile) were identified.

RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-one patients were included from 9 academic centers. The median (interquartile range) morphine milligram equivalents (MME) consumed were 28 (0-65) and prescribed were 75 (50-113). The median ibuprofen and acetaminophen tablets consumed were 19 (10-34) and 12 (4-26). The median pain level was 2.7 of 10 (1.7-4.4). Factors associated with high MME use (>65 MME) included body mass index greater than 30 (P < 0.01), chronic pain (P < 0.01), elevated baseline pain score (P < 0.01), elevated blood loss (P < 0.01), longer operating time (P < 0.01), and southern region (P < 0.01). High MME consumers more frequently underwent perineorrhaphy (P = 0.03), although this was not significant on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Urogynecology patients consume a median of 28 MME (3-4 oxycodone 5-mg tablets) after surgery, and surgeons prescribe 3 times this amount (75 MME, 10 oxycodone tablets). In addition, there are several factors that can be used to identify patients who will require greater numbers of opioids. These data may be used to enhance existing prescribing guidelines.