Postoperative Analgesia A Personalized Protocol for Prescribing Opioids After Cesarean Delivery: Leveraging the Electronic Medical Record to Reduce Outpatient Opioid Prescriptions

( Am J Obstet Gynecol . 2024; 230:446.e1–446.e6. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2023.09.092) Cesarean deliveries (CD) are highly prevalent in the United States, with over 1.1 million performed in 2020. Despite this, standardized pain management at discharge is lacking. Many patients still receive excess opioids at discharge, often leading to unused medication that can contribute to misuse and addiction. Studies show similar opioid prescriptions for all patients regardless of varying pain levels and opioid requirements, highlighting the need to address overprescribing. In 2021, updated guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Clinical Consensus-Obstetrics recommended a multimodal approach, combining acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids, tailored to individual needs.