Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Special Edition: Anesthesia - July 2020 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/1268528

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 11 of 54

1 2 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U L Y 2 0 2 0 T here's a straightforward way to reduce the number of compli- cations following total knee replacements and improve the recoveries of patients who undergo these notoriously painful procedures: Stop relying on opioids to provide pain relief. It's been know for years that opioid-related side effects — PONV, constipation, sedation and respiratory depression — limit short-term recovery from total knees. Providers and patients are now becoming increasingly aware of the long-term negative effects of using opioids to manage post-op pain. For example, approximately 6% of opioid- naïve patients will still be taking the painkillers up to 6 months after surgery, according to Ellen M. Soffin, MD, PhD, an anesthesiologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. The trend to go "opioid-free" sounds like a worthwhile goal to man- Kendal Gapinski | Contributing Editor Help Total Knee Patients Recover in Comfort Alternative therapies reduce their reliance on opioids to manage post-op pain. SOME NERVE Extending the effect of regional blocks is key to keeping patients comfortable beyond the first day of recovery.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Outpatient Surgery Magazine - Special Edition: Anesthesia - July 2020 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine