From the Journals

Tracking Opioid Refills After Surgery

Researchers evaluated perioperative and postdischarge factors associated with opioid refill prescriptions during the first 90 days after inpatient otolaryngology–head and neck surgery.

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    Opioid prescribing reduced from 2017 to

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    Refills remained unchanged post-discharge.

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    Mismatches in prescribed vs. inpatient opioid doses increased refill risk.

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    Preoperative opioid use correlated with refills.

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    Prior refill strongest predictor of future refills.

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    Need for alignment in discharge prescriptions with inpatient consumption.

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    Study analyzed 4,132 adult patients in a large academic center.

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    Observational nature limits causal inferences.

Original Source(s)

Tracking Opioid Refills After Surgery

Researchers evaluated perioperative and postdischarge factors associated with opioid refill prescriptions during the first 90 days after inpatient otolaryngology–head and neck surgery.

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • February 6, 2026

  • 4 min

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