Perioperative Pain Management: Is a Narcotic-free America Possible?-Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD, FAANS Video

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the team approach to opioids and post-operative care in order to prevent opioid addiction and misuse. They highlight that surgeons tend to prescribe more opioids than necessary and patients often receive insufficient disposal instructions, leading to excess opioids being kept for an extended period of time. To prevent this, they propose a team-based approach involving patient, surgeon, anesthetist, and other healthcare professionals. The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering non-opioid medications for pain control and early mobilization of patients. They also discuss the need for cohesive teamwork, clear expectations, and education for team members. They suggest developing enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, involving multiple stakeholders, and monitoring compliance and outcomes to improve patient care and minimize opioid use. The speaker also shares the success of using spinal cord stimulation to reduce opioid use in patients. The video concludes with acknowledgments to the team and funding sources.

Keywords

team approach

opioids

post-operative care

patient care

spinal cord stimulation