OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of an environmentally friendly drug deactivation bag on opioid disposal among patients undergoing gynecologic surgery. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included patients undergoing gynecologic procedures requiring an opioid prescription from March 2020 to December 2020. Patients were managed on a restrictive opioid prescribing algorithm and given an opioid disposal bag. The carbon drug deactivation bag neutralizes the opioid medication and can be discarded safely in the trash. Patients were educated about pain management goals and the disposal bag. Patients were surveyed at their postoperative visit to evaluate satisfaction, number of leftover pills, and disposal methods. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 26. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were asked to complete the survey, with a response rate of 78%. The most common procedures were exploratory laparotomy (50%) and minimally invasive hysterectomy (41%). Most patients (91%, 95% CI 91-97) filled their opioid prescription and 64 (41%, 95% CI 34-48) had leftover opioid pills. Most patients with leftover opioid pills (73%, 95% CI 67-79) discarded them; 78%, 95% CI 69-80 used the disposal bag. Patients undergoing an exploratory laparotomy most commonly used the disposal bag. All patients who used the disposal bag stated they would use it again. CONCLUSION: Despite a restrictive opioid prescribing algorithm, 41% of gynecologic surgical patients had leftover opioid pills. This study demonstrated that leftover opioid pills were safely discarded 73% of the time when patients were provided an opioid disposal bag and preoperative education.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of an environmentally friendly drug deactivation bag on opioid disposal among patients undergoing gynecologic surgery. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included patients undergoing gynecologic procedures requiring an opioid prescription from March 2020 to December 2020. Patients were managed on a restrictive opioid prescribing algorithm and given an opioid disposal bag. The carbon drug deactivation bag neutralizes the opioid medication and can be discarded safely in the trash. Patients were educated about pain management goals and the disposal bag. Patients were surveyed at their postoperative visit to evaluate satisfaction, number of leftover pills, and disposal methods. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 26. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were asked to complete the survey, with a response rate of 78%. The most common procedures were exploratory laparotomy (50%) and minimally invasive hysterectomy (41%). Most patients (91%, 95% CI 91-97) filled their opioid prescription and 64 (41%, 95% CI 34-48) had leftover opioid pills. Most patients with leftover opioid pills (73%, 95% CI 67-79) discarded them; 78%, 95% CI 69-80 used the disposal bag. Patients undergoing an exploratory laparotomy most commonly used the disposal bag. All patients who used the disposal bag stated they would use it again. CONCLUSION: Despite a restrictive opioid prescribing algorithm, 41% of gynecologic surgical patients had leftover opioid pills. This study demonstrated that leftover opioid pills were safely discarded 73% of the time when patients were provided an opioid disposal bag and preoperative education.
Authors: Alexander Hallway; Joceline Vu; Jay Lee; William Palazzolo; Jennifer Waljee; Chad Brummett; Michael Englesbe; Ryan Howard Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2019-05-30 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Annetta M Madsen; Lauren M Stark; Phinnara Has; Jenna B Emerson; Jay Schulkin; Kristen A Matteson Journal: Obstet Gynecol Date: 2018-01 Impact factor: 7.661
Authors: Oluwadolapo D Lawal; Justin Gold; Amala Murthy; Rupam Ruchi; Egle Bavry; Anne L Hume; Adam K Lewkowitz; Todd Brothers; Xuerong Wen Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2020-06-01
Authors: Jaron Mark; Deanna M Argentieri; Camille A Gutierrez; Kayla Morrell; Kevin Eng; Alan D Hutson; Paul Mayor; J Brian Szender; Kristen Starbuck; Sarah Lynam; Bonnie Blum; Stacey Akers; Shashikant Lele; Gyorgy Paragh; Kunle Odunsi; Oscar de Leon-Casasola; Peter J Frederick; Emese Zsiros Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2018-12-07