Perioperative Opioid Management for Pediatric Populations

Opioid administration for pain management in the perioperative setting of pediatric surgery is often essential. However, perioperative opioid prescription use may lead to opioid misuse and dependence. While crucial for preventing acute pain from evolving into chronic pain, opioid use must be carefully managed to avoid potential complications. Perioperative prescription opioids can act as gateways to future misuse in adolescents. Studies show early legitimate opioid use is linked to a higher risk of later misuse, with many adolescents obtaining opioids from prior prescriptions. Pediatric opioid overdoses increasingly involve synthetic opioids, highlighting the need for stringent prescribing practices and leading to the development of guidelines aimed at reducing excessive and variable prescribing in pediatric patients post-surgery.