Research Article: Cost-effectiveness of “aiming for double zero”: strategies to avoid both PONV and downstream High Abuse-Liability Opioid use in bariatric anesthesia and surgery contexts
Abstract:
Perioperative high abuse-liability opioids (HALO), and associations with both postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and new persistent opioid use (NPOU), present epidemiologic challenges impacting short- and long-term quality of life. While enhanced recovery treatments emphasizing non-opioids have become more prevalent, they typically do not incorporate comprehensive strategies for extensive avoidance of both HALO use and intermediate-term PONV. Based on modeling of recent observational research, there may be benefits to stakeholders by adopting strategies that meaningfully reduce PONV while potentially minimizing NPOU.
We developed a Markov decision analysis model comparing pharmacoeconomic/clinical outcomes over a 5-year time horizon after a 2–4-day surgical encounter for elective bariatric surgery. Two intrathecal morphine enhanced recovery treatment strategies (partial and comprehensive) were tested, alongside historical controls.
The comprehensive strategy featuring scheduled booster non-opioids and antiemetics carried a US$500–$1,900 lower cost burden per case in the model, while preserving more quality-adjusted life days (21–35) per case, than did the Partial strategy or historical controls. Sensitivity analyses of the comprehensive strategy demonstrated that the results were robust over many model parameters. The comprehensive strategy, however, carried a tradeoff of pruritus due to intrathecal opioid use.
Capitalizing on the generic availability of 5-HT 3 (palonosetron) and NK-1 antagonist antiemetics, as well as low abuse-liability intrathecal morphine combined with intrathecal magnesium, the described comprehensive enhanced recovery treatment strategy (featuring scheduled boosters) was associated with both reduced costs and improved quality of life after bariatric surgery.
Introduction:
Perioperative high abuse-liability opioids (HALO), and associations with both postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and new persistent opioid use (NPOU), present epidemiologic challenges impacting short- and long-term quality of life. While enhanced recovery treatments emphasizing non-opioids have become more prevalent, they typically do not incorporate comprehensive strategies for extensive avoidance of both HALO use and intermediate-term PONV. Based on modeling of recent observational research, there may be…
Read more