Opioid-free Laparoscopic Appendectomy: Quality Improvement Project.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

This quality improvement project has tracked postoperative measures for more than 5 years as we implement an opioid-free laparoscopic appendectomy protocol.

Methods

We used statistical process control charts to analyze real-world data captured from the medical record. Outcome measures included postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS), 24-hour maximum pain scores, PACU intravenous opioid medication administration, hospital LOS, and postoperative day 1 morphine milliequivalent requirement. We monitored this family of measures in all appendectomy patients as our team adopted the opioid-free protocol; in addition, we rationally subgrouped patients into the opioid-receiving group versus the opioid-free group.

Results

A total of 2,483 pediatric lapa

SUBMITTER: Mitchell K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11838154 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature