- Dr Dermot McGuckin, ST7 Anaesthesia & Pain Medicine, University College London Hospitals
Email Dr McGuckin - Dr Fausto Morell-Ducos, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Pain Medicine, University College London Hospitals
- Dr Jamie Smart, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Pain Management, University College London Hospitals
- Dr Brigitta Brandner, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Pain Management, University College London Hospitals
Opioids play an important role in facilitating recovery and return to function after surgery.
However, it is now well-established that surgery is a risk factor for persistent postoperative opioid use,1 and preoperative opioid use is associated with an increased risk of perioperative complications.2
Perioperative opioid stewardship is a practical approach providing a systemic, multi-layered framework aimed at minimising the risks associated with opioid use around the time of surgery, while allowing their safe administration to those patients most likely to benefit from them. It is increasingly regarded as a solution to the problem of prescription opioid-related harm but there is a lack of structured curricula to develop healthcare professionals’ skills in competent opioid management.