Efficacy of an opioid-sparing analgesic protocol in pain control after less invasive cranial neurosurgery

INTRODUCTION: Opioid overuse in postoperative patients is a worrisome trend, and potential alternatives exist which warrant investigation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in treating postoperative cranial surgery pain has been hampered by concern for inadequate pain control and increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. A safe and effective alternative to opioid-based pain management is critical to improving postoperative care. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this retrospective study was to determine whether an NSAID-based opioid-sparing pain management protocol (OSP) is effective in analgesic control of less invasive cranial surgery patients at 6-, 12-, and 24-hour postoperatively. Secondary aims included investigating differences in hemorrhagic complications. METHODS: Five hundred sixty-six consecutive patients who underwent cranial surgery before and after implementation of the celecoxib-based OSP were eligible. Propensity score matching was used to match patients in each cohort. RESULTS: The opioid-sparing cohort had lower pain scores at 6 hours (3.45 vs 4.19, P = 0.036), 12 hours (3.21 vs 4.00, P = 0.006), and 24 hours (2.90 vs 3.59, P = 0.010). Rates of postoperative hemorrhage were not significantly different (5% intervention vs 8% control, P = 0.527). The opioid-sparing pain management protocol provided comparable or better pain control in the first 24 hours after less invasive cranial surgery. Hemorrhage rates did not change with the use of an NSAID-based OSP. CONCLUSION: An effective alternative to the current standard opioid-based pain management is feasible for less invasive cranial surgery. Determinations of hemorrhage risk and more complex cranial surgery will require larger prospective randomized trials.