Pharmacist improvement of opioid safety in patients at risk for opioid-induced respiratory depression Claudia Cooper Caromont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia, NC
Background/Purpose: In 2014, 51% of 1.14 million nonsurgical patients in U.S. hospitals received an opioid during an inpatient admission, where 0.6% of administrations resulted in an opioid-related adverse event. According to the Joint Commission, receiving concomitant benzodiazepines increases patients_x0019_ risk for opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD). The aim of this study is to improve opioid safety through pharmacist intervention in admitted patients receiving opioids with concomitant benzodiazepines. In addition, patients with a documented naloxone administration in the inpatient setting are reviewed, as these patients are predicted to be at risk for having a repeat event.
Methodology: All admitted patients during the study period with an active opioid order and a concomitant benzodiazepine order were reviewed to screen for appropriateness. In addition, a daily report was generated of hospital inpatients who received naloxone to determine the need for pharmacist intervention. Interventions outside of the pharmacist scope of practice were recommended to the attending provider. A retrospective review was conducted of patients that met inclusion criteria from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 and compared to the prospective data collected from January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019. The primary endpoint is the average daily oral milligram morphine equivalents (MME) prescribed per patient. The secondary endpoints are the number of active opioid orders per patient, number of naloxone administrations, and length of stay in the pre- and post-intervention groups.
Results: Pending
Conclusions: Pending
Presentation Objective: Describe the risk factors associated with opioid-induced respiratory depression and identify several interventions pharmacists can make to decrease this risk.
Self-Assessment: What factors may increase a patient_x0019_s risk for respiratory depression while receiving opioid therapy?
