Why — and how — surgeons are ditching opioids in the OR

Recovering from surgery can be difficult —  and opioids actually make it tougher. In addition to side effects such as nausea, lethargy and potential breathing problems, this potent painkiller also carries the risk of addiction for about 3 to 4 percent of surgical patients. That number climbs to about 8 percent for bariatric surgery patients because they may also be battling joint pain stemming from their weight issues.

On this episode of the podcast, two bariatric surgeons share how they are limiting, and in some cases even eliminating all together, the use of opioids during a patient's stay in the hospital and after discharge through their "enhanced recovery" initiative. They are:

• Dominick Gadaleta, MD, chair of surgery, South Shore University Hospital
• David Pechman, MD, bariatric surgeon, South Shore University Hospital

And they’re joined by an expert in substance use disorder:

• Sandeep Kapoor, MD, assistant vice president of Emergency Medicine Addiction Services.

Read more about how the use of nerve blocks is reducing the need for opioids at Northwell hospitals.