Researchers assessed pain control and patient satisfaction using an opioid-free analgesic approach for thyroid and parathyroid operations. Surveys were given to postoperative patients, excluding those who had neck dissections or preoperative opioid use. The final cohort consisted of 80 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, thyroid lobectomy, or parathyroidectomy. Most patients reported satisfaction with pain control (87.5%) and the overall surgical experience (95%). There was no significant difference in satisfaction with pain control among the different procedures. Patients who reported dissatisfaction with pain control were more likely to receive opioid prescriptions, but most still reported satisfaction with their operative experience (70%). The findings suggest that an opioid-free postoperative pain control regimen is well tolerated and does not significantly affect overall patient satisfaction.
Reference: Leader PW, Oyler DR, Carter TM, et al. Opioid-Free Thyroid and Parathyroid Operations: Are Patients Satisfied With Pain Control? Am Surg. 2023 Apr;89(4):942-947. doi: 10.1177/00031348211048846. Epub 2021 Nov 3. PMID: 34732084.
READ MORE > https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34732084/
