Navigating the fine line between effective pain control and minimizing harm from opioid medications remains one of anesthesiology's greatest challenges. This episode dives deep into the evolving landscape of perioperative pain management, examining how clinicians can achieve the delicate balance required for optimal patient outcomes.

Dr. Paul Guillod joins us to share his perspective as both an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, highlighting how opioid-sparing techniques create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and improved surgical recovery. We examine the substantial risks of traditional opioid-based approaches: respiratory depression, delayed bowel function, delirium, and paradoxically, opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

The episode showcases promising research on multimodal analgesia strategies that target multiple pain pathways simultaneously. By combining regional anesthesia techniques with medications like NSAIDs, acetaminophen, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, and newer options like suzetrigine, clinicians can dramatically reduce opioid requirements while maintaining effective pain control. Real-world implementation of these approaches through Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols has yielded impressive results: 50% reductions in in-hospital opioid use, shortened hospital stays, and improved pain scores across multiple surgical specialties.

Whether you're a clinician seeking to improve your pain management approach or simply interested in understanding how anesthesia care is evolving to address the opioid crisis, this episode offers valuable insights into creating safer, more effective perioperative experiences. Subscribe to the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast and join us in our commitment that no one shall be harmed by anesthesia care.

For show notes & transcript, visit our episode page at apsf.org: https://www.apsf.org/podcast/267-beyond-opioids-revolutionizing-perioperative-pain-control/

© 2025, The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation