Use of Opioid Analgesics Before and After Gastric Bypass Surgery in Sweden: a Population-Based Study

Abstract

In this nationwide study, we have showed that there is an increase in consumption of opioid analgesics after gastric bypass surgery in Sweden. The increase in the number of individuals with high opioid consumption in the total population was mainly due to an increase in the group of patients with a low consumption prior to surgery.

Preoperative chronic opioid use and its impact on early complications in bariatric surgery: a Swedish nationwide cohort study of 56,183 patients

“…Among these, preoperative assessment of the risk of persistent J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f postoperative opioid use, avoidance of long-acting opioid formulations, limiting the number of tablets prescribed at discharge and avoidance of automatic prescription refills as well as better education of healthcare professionals and patients are mentioned. Previous studies have reported increased use of opioids after bariatric surgery (7,32) . Probably, the association between opioid use preoperatively and the increased risk of an adverse outcome after bariatric surgery, as observed in this study, at least partly may be a contributing factor.…”

Weight loss and effect on co-morbidities in the long-term after duodenal switch and gastric bypass: a population-based cohort study

“…This is surprisingly because the massive weight loss, especially in DS, should reduce the patients' musculoskeletal pain. In recent years, there has been a concern about opioid analgesic use among bariatric patients, with 2 studies, 1 from the United States [21] and 1 from Sweden [22], reporting an overall increased use of opioids after bariatric surgery. It is possible that the effect on weight-related pain is overshadowed by the surgical trauma (bariatric operation and subsequent additional procedures) in combination with high prevalence at baseline, 2 important factors predisposing for chronic opioid use [23,24].…”

Opioids and bariatric surgery: A review and suggested recommendations for assessment and risk reduction

“…Four large prospective studies have been published which examine the prevalence of bariatric surgery patients who continue or initiate opioid use following bariatric surgery. 2,8,9,11 Raebel and colleagues 8,11 published prevalence rates and predictors of continued opioid use up to three years following bariatric surgery and new onset opioid use within the first post-operative year. Data were generated by analyzing the electronic health records of nearly 12,000 patients who underwent bariatric surgery at one of several geographically diverse centers across the US.…”

“…Most recently, prescription opioid use following RYGB bariatric surgery was reported from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Register (SOReg) 9 . Prescribing records were examined from a national registry from 35,612 patients who underwent a primary gastric bypass surgery in Sweden between 2007 and 2013.…”

“…2,8,9 Of particular concern, new onset use and abuse have been noted. 2,[8][9][10] The following review will outline the literature on pre-and post-operative opioid use prevalence, mechanisms of risk, as well as predictors and assessment of problematic use in bariatric populations pre-and post-operatively. This review will also outline appropriate education/informed consent procedures for patients as well as treatment options.…”