Pain Management in Trauma: Maximizing Multimodals to Minimize Opioids

The US has been challenged with an opioid crisis, as these medications account for a substantial number of fatal and nonfatal overdoses. Surgeons are on the front lines of this epidemic, balancing the treatment of pain, while confronting the risks of opioids, such as gastrointestinal effects, respiratory distress, delirium, increased hospital length of stay, and potential misuse or diversion.1,2 Recently, progress has been made in this battle, as opioid-related deaths fell in 2018 for the first time in decades.
Source: Journal of the American College of Surgeons - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Invited Commentary Source Type: research