Among the concerning side effects of opioids are constipation and respiratory depression.
"Remember, you develop tolerance least quickly to their effects on the GI tract ... when you’re sending kids home from the hospital on opioids, make sure you focus on their bowel habits, or they’re going to be back, they’re going to be constipated, they’re not going to be ambulating, they may not be as well hydrated, so we really need to focus on the GI tract," he said.
Respiratory depression is recognized as an increasing concern.
"When these kids are getting PCA on the floor, make sure you have ready access to resuscitation equipment should you need it," he said.
"Especially as the population gets bigger, we may have more undiagnosed OSA [obstructive sleep apnea], so all of our patients get their respiratory rates checked, they’re on pulse oximetry. In really high-risk patients, we’re using end tidal transcutaneous CO2 monitoring," he said, adding: "Remember, hypoxemia is a late finding of opioid-related respiratory depression. You’re going to see a slight elevation in carbon dioxide first."
Adverse effects are most common in those at the extremes of age, in those with underlying systemic diseases, and in those receiving other agents that are central nervous system depressants.
Of course, the best way to limit side effects is to use adjunctive agents, Dr. Tobias said.
"Maximize the use of nonsteroidals and acetaminophen, and you’re going to use a lot less opioid," he said.
Another important approach to reducing opioid use is the perioperative use of regional anesthesia.
"If you’re working in the hospital taking care of kids after major surgical procedures, I think if you partner with the anesthesia team there’s a lot you can do perioperatively to almost eliminate the need for intravenous opioids," he said.
For a femur fracture patient, for example, a catheter can be placed near the femoral nerve to provide analgesia, or the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can be blocked. Ultrasound has "really opened the door for regional anesthesia."
Home infusion devices are also available.
"So if you’re having your anterior cruciate ligament repaired, where I work, you’re going to go home with a femoral nerve catheter and a home infusion device that will work for 3 days and really limit your need for parenteral and oral opioids," he said.
Outside of the operating room, regional anesthesia can be used to treat pain that is unresponsive to opioids or if the opioids are causing side effects. Cases involving sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis, multiple trauma, or burns are scenarios in which regional anesthesia can be particularly useful, he said.
Dr. Tobias reported having no disclosures.