From
StayCurrentMD
Too Much Variability in Opioid Prescriptions for Pediatric Operations
hosted by Dr. Alex Gibbons
Chapter 1 of 3 · Evidence & Research
Background
Study background and opioid epidemic context
Expert statements on this page
No expert statements were drawn from this page.
Host summaries · secondary, not cited in answers
Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Talk to your (or your child's) care team about your situation.
Video
Intestinal Atresia Types Explained: Grossfeld Classification for Pediatric Surgery
1 min · Published Sep 2026
Video
Derivation and validation of the Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia Severity (PedCAPS) score: A prospective cohort study
50 s · Published Sep 2026
Video
FETO for Late-Diagnosed Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) at Cincinnati Children's with Dr. Beth Rymeski
4 min · Published Sep 2026
Video
Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Case: FETO Management & Unexpected Findings with Dr. Beth Rymeski
3 min · Published Sep 2026
Video
Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO) Procedure: Step-by-Step Guide with Dr. Beth Rymeski
4 min · Published Sep 2026
Video
Choledochal Cyst Types Explained: Pediatric Surgery Fundamentals
1 min · Published Sep 2026
What the experts said
Of adolescents who use opioid prescriptions recreationally, 80% have their source from leftover medications.
There are currently no recommendations for opioid prescriptions for post-surgical patients in the pediatric population.
The study was a retrospective chart review of all patients who had an appendectomy for simple appendicitis between October 2016 and January 2018.
62.5% of patients received narcotics after an appendectomy for simple appendicitis.
There was no difference in narcotic prescribing based on race, sex, age, or insurance status.
There was wide variability in oral morphine equivalents per kilogram per day prescribed.
Prescription duration varied widely, with some patients receiving prescriptions for only one day while others received prescriptions for up to a month.
Some surgeons gave only 6% of their patients a narcotic prescription, while others gave nearly 70% of their patients a prescription.
Patients who received a prescription for opioids came to the emergency department over three times more often than those who did not.
The variability in opioid prescribing is evidence for the need for a standardized protocol for prescriptions after pediatric operations.