Outpatient Surgery Magazine

How Will You Stop Her Pain? February 2015 - 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/459853

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 44 of 143

Dr. Viscusi The average patient isn't fully aware of the available options. It's unusual for a patient to request a regional block, a catheter and home infusion deliv- ery system or the newest drug. If anything, patients and providers are still opioid-oriented, without being aware of the ultimate risk to the individual and society. While we're making great strides at reducing the amount of opi- oids used, many patients still expect to receive them. When you tell them they're not going to get their big bottle of oxycodone, they're hesitant and unwilling to accept that non-opioid alternatives may work just as well. Dr. Wagner There are alternatives, but in the orthopedic setting, opioids are still a mainstay. We do a lot of regional anesthesia here, but that's not a complete substitute for opioids. Regional blocks get patients through a period of time when the pain is most severe, but most end up taking some narcotics. Dr. Viscusi The threshold surgeons use to prescribe opioids is usually pretty low. Much of what they do is based on patient satisfaction, and if patients expect opioids, that's the easiest path to take. Dr. Stamatos. Individuals on chronic pain medications are some of the most difficult to manage. Being proactive with these patients is impor- 4 5 February 2015 | O U T PAT I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T z DIGGING DEEP Knee procedures are notorious for leaving patients in significant post-op pain. Pamela bevelhymer, rN, bSN

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Outpatient Surgery Magazine - How Will You Stop Her Pain? February 2015 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine