RESEARCH
REDUCING RELIANCE ON OPIOIDS FOR POST-SURGERY PAIN Trial to evaluate medication to help patients ambulate faster and get home sooner after surgery By Brian Sodoma
O
pioids have long sample population at The down to the question of ‘does this medbeen used for CORE Institute Specialty ication allow the patient to ambulate pain management Hospital earlier this year; faster and go home sooner?’” after surgery. But initial results were positive. So far, that answer could be “yes.” as we know, these powerful Marc Jacofsky, Ph.D., ExecDr. Thompson said patient pain scores drugs can be addictive. utive Director of Research were low and cognition was good. He One study published by the and Education for the MORE saw “prolonged pain relief over 24 to 48 International Anesthesia Foundation, heard about hours, which ultimately decreased the Research Society found that Dr. Marc Jacofsky the preliminary analysis and patient’s dependence on other narcot7.7 percent of surgery pasaw the opportunity to further ics.” Some even started ambulating in as tients who had not taken opioids in the test the drug with the gold standard of little as an hour after surgery, past were more likely to still use them research, a randomized controlled trial. Hauns noted. “Both stressed that these one year after their operation. Under the MORE Foundaearly findings are prelimiToday, the MORE Foundation is tion’s grant-funded study, nary and much more study partnering with The CORE Institute to half the patients will use the and analysis of the data will conduct a study that hopefully improves standard opioid regimen and be required to understand that statistic. Together, the organizations the other half the DSUVIA the true effectiveness and will conduct a prospective randomized regimen. The CORE Institute potential role for this controlled trial that could help to miniteams will focus on patient medication.” mize the need for opioids after surgeries care while MORE Foundation The partnership between and offer the same pain relief needed to researchers monitor results. The CORE Institute, its Dr. John Thompson get patients back in motion faster. A medical safety board will be specialty hospital, and the created to monitor and address any safety MORE Foundation is an interdisciplinary ABOUT THE STUDY concerns. collaboration that can benefit all orthoThe MORE Foundation is currently pedic patients around the nation. enrolling up to 150 orthopedic surgery POTENTIALLY A NATIONAL STANDARD “These efforts can help patients patients in a trial using the FDA-apJoshua Hauns, Pharm.D, a pharmabeyond The CORE Institute. If we’re able proved drug, DSUVIA, or sufentanil. It’s cist and the Senior Clinical Director at to demonstrate this medication reduces a pain medication placed under the The CORE Institute Specialty Hospital, overall opioid use, it could become a tongue at pre and post-oppartnered with The CORE national standard.” Dr. Jacofsky added. erative stages to test if less Institute’s hip and knee sur“This study shows how effective collabopioid medication is needed geon, Dr. John Thompson, oration between clinicians, hospitals throughout the surgery to test the DSUVIA regimen and researchers is critical to achieving process and on through to earlier this year. our mission—to continually define the discharge. It’s the first trial of “We’re trying to find that standard of musculoskeletal care.” its kind involving orthopedic sweet spot between what resurgery participants. lieves pain but doesn’t knock To learn more, visit The FDA-approved mediyou out,” Hauns emphasized. more-foundation.org. cation was tried on a smaller Joshua Hauns, Pharm.D “Ultimately, this all comes
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