Half Avoid Opioids After Colorectal Surgery - Report - MDSpire

Half Avoid Opioids After Colorectal Surgery

Researchers examine postdischarge pain management after elective colorectal surgery, focusing on how prescribing practices align with actual opioid use at home.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • January 16, 2026

  • 3 min

Share

Clinical Report: Half Avoid Opioids After Colorectal Surgery

Overview

Revise to include statistical significance of factors associated with opioid-free analgesia.

Background

The management of postoperative pain is critical in colorectal surgery, where opioid use can lead to complications such as chronic opioid dependence. Understanding factors that contribute to opioid-free analgesia can help optimize pain management strategies and reduce opioid-related harms.

Data Highlights

CharacteristicPercentage
Patients using opioids postdischarge49%
Patients receiving acetaminophen92%
Patients receiving NSAIDs38%
Patients prescribed opioids92%
Median opioid pills prescribed13

Key Findings

Incorporate statistical significance for all findings, particularly for patient activation.

Clinical Implications

Expand on multimodal analgesia strategies and their relevance to the study's results.

Conclusion

The study underscores the potential for effective pain management without opioids in colorectal surgery patients, highlighting the importance of tailored prescribing practices.

References

  1. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chronic Opioid Use Reduced by Limiting Prescribed Opioids After Surgery, 2023 -- Chronic Opioid Use Reduced by Limiting Prescribed Opioids After Surgery
  2. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Review of Peripherally Acting μ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists for Treating Postoperative Ileus, 2020 -- Clinical Review of Peripherally Acting μ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists for Treating Postoperative Ileus
  3. BJS (British Journal of Surgery), Understanding Postoperative Ileus, 2023 -- Understanding Postoperative Ileus
  4. Guidelines for perioperative care in elective colorectal surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommendations 2025, 2025 -- Guidelines for perioperative care in elective colorectal surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommendations 2025
  5. Opioid use patterns following discharge from elective colorectal surgery: a prospective cohort study, 2024 -- Opioid use patterns following discharge from elective colorectal surgery: a prospective cohort study
  6. the asco post — Surgery for Early-Stage Cancer and Opioid Use
  7. Intrathecal Morphine for Enhanced Recovery After Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
  8. Guidelines for perioperative care in elective colorectal surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommendations 2025 - ScienceDirect
  9. Opioid use patterns following discharge from elective colorectal surgery: a prospective cohort study - PubMed

Original Source(s)

Half Avoid Opioids After Colorectal Surgery

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • January 16, 2026

Related Content

Laparoscopic intracavitary catheterization combined with bleomycin quadruple sclerotherapy for retroperitoneal lymphatic malformations: a single-center case series

Tenecteplase Fails to Boost EVT Outcomes

Phase 3 stroke trial leaves open the possibility of clinically meaningful benefit or harm in selected late-window patients.

Antibiotic Falls Short in Disc-Related Back Pain

A randomized trial found no greater pain reduction vs placebo, but questions remain about patients with type 1 Modic changes.