Surgery and opioids: evidence-based expert consensus guidelines on the perioperative use of opioids in the United Kingdom

There are significant concerns regarding prescription and misuse of prescription opioids in the perioperative period. TheFaculty of Pain Medicine at the Royal College of Anaesthetists have produced this evidence-based expert consensusguideline on surgery and opioids along with the Royal College of Surgery, Royal College of Psychiatry, Royal College ofNursing, and the British Pain Society. This expert consensus practice advisory reproduces the Faculty of Pain Medicineguidance. Perioperative stewardship of opioids starts with judicious opioid prescribing in primary and secondary care.Before surgery, it is important to assess risk factors for continued opioid use after surgery and identify those with chronicpain before surgery, some of whom may be taking opioids. A multidisciplinary perioperative care plan that includes aprehabilitation strategy and intraoperative and postoperative care needs to be formulated. This may need the input of apain specialist. Emphasis is placed on optimum management of pain pre-, intra-, and postoperatively. The use ofimmediate-release opioids is preferred in the immediate postoperative period. Attention to ensuring a smooth caretransition and communication from secondary to primary care for those taking opioids is highlighted. For opioid-naivepatients (patients not taking opioids before surgery), no more than 7 days of opioid prescription is recommended.Persistent use of opioid needs a medical evaluation and exclusion of chronic post-surgical pain. The lack of grading of theevidence of each individual recommendation remains a major weakness of this guidance; however, evidence supportingeach recommendation has been rigorously reviewed by experts in perioperative pain management.