The Opioid-Tolerant Patient: Opioid Optimization

Abstract

Chronic opioid use and abuse continue to plague our country despite efforts to curtail their use. Patients on chronic opioids (opioids tolerant) who undergo total joint arthroplasty have been clearly shown to have higher rates of complications, infection, and early revision compared to the opioid-naïve patients. The ability to successfully wean patients off of narcotics before surgery remains challenging and fragmented at best. The utilization of a multidisciplinary team that assists with not only preoperative opioids reduction but also postoperative opioids management is critical to the successful management of these patients. This symposium focuses on the opioid-tolerant patients and a comprehensive approach to opioids optimization.

Keywords: chronic opioid use; chronic pain; opioid wean; opioids; pain management; perioperative pain management.