New Clinical Guidelines Significantly Reduce Opioid Prescriptions After Ear Surgery

A caller retrospective study published successful OTO Open, nan open-access diary of nan American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), demonstrates that nan Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations has had a measurable and sustained effect connected prescribing practices pursuing parotidectomy, which a surgical process to region nan parotid gland.

The study analyzed deidentified information from much than 25,000 patients crossed 80 U.S. healthcare organizations utilizing nan TriNetX database, spanning January 2013 done December 2023. Researchers recovered that pursuing nan publication of nan CPG successful April 2021, opioid prescribing successful nan postoperative play dropped instantly and significantly, and that nan inclination continued complete time.

This study highlights nan value of objective believe guidelines and nan effect they tin person connected believe patterns." 

Viran J. Ranasinghe, MD, elder author, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch

The research, which was first presented astatine nan AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, held October 11–14, 2025, successful Indianapolis, Indiana, represents a meaningful displacement toward nan multimodal, non-opioid-first attack to postoperative symptom guidance championed by nan CPG.

About nan AAO-HNSF Clinical Practice Guideline: Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations

This CPG was developed to trim nan variety successful postoperative symptom guidance crossed nan specialty and curb nan risks associated pinch opioid overprescribing, including opioid usage upset (OUD), diversion, and overdose. Among its cardinal action statements, nan line issued beardown recommendations that clinicians:

• Advocate for non-opioid medications arsenic first-line guidance of symptom pursuing otolaryngologic surgery
• Screen patients for OUD consequence factors earlier room erstwhile opioids are anticipated
• Counsel patients connected unafraid retention and disposal of immoderate unused opioids.

The line besides emphasizes shared decision-making, multimodal analgesia strategies, and diligent education, providing a broad model aimed astatine reducing opioid dependence consequence while maintaining effective symptom control.