Anesthesiology News reported on study findings by HSS anesthesiologist Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, who researched the efficacy of multiple analgesics in reducing opioid use and maximizing pain control for joint arthroplasty.

"Multimodal pain management has been heralded for years because it may be associated with improved pain management and reduced opiate consumption. But we wanted to take it one step further. We wanted to know if the number and type of analgesic modes are associated with reduced complications, opioid prescriptions and resource utilization," said Dr. Memtsoudis.

According to the article, Dr. Memtsoudis and his team reviewed surgical data from 2006 to 2016. Findings indicated that patients who received two modes of analgesia experienced fewer respiratory complications and a decrease in opioid prescriptions.

"While multimodal therapy is safe, all these medications have their own risks and side effects—it's not just opioids…. because opioids have a legitimate role to play in pain management. I don't think we should be trying to eliminate them altogether. Instead, I caution moderation when it comes to use of these agents," Dr. Memtsoudis noted.

Read the full article at anesthesiologynews.com.

Additional Coverage:

• Becker's Spine Review: Multimodal analgesia best at managing pain, complications after arthroplasty — 5 findings