A new study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 annual meeting in Philadelphia highlights significant post-surgical pain disparities affecting Black patients. Research indicates that Black patients are less likely to receive multimodal analgesia, a pain management approach that combines various medications for improved pain relief and reduced opioid use.

Multimodal Analgesia Gaps for Black Patients

The study reveals that Black patients are 29% less likely than white patients to receive multimodal analgesia, which is recommended for effective post-surgical pain management. This approach has been successful, especially after complex surgeries like lung or abdominal cancer procedures and hernia repairs. In contrast, Black patients were 74% more likely to receive a combination of oral and intravenous (IV) opioids, increasing the risk of addiction.

“We know multimodal analgesia provides better pain control and reduces the need for opioids. It should be the standard for all high-risk surgeries,” said Dr. Niloufar Masoudi, lead author and anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Analyzing Post-Surgical Pain Disparities

The study examined pain treatment among 2,460 white patients and 482 Black patients within the first 24 hours after high-risk surgeries from 2016 to 2021. Researchers ruled out variables such as insurance status, health conditions, and age, confirming significant racial disparities in post-surgical pain management.

Dr. Masoudi explained that reasons for these disparities could include patient preferences, variations in reported pain, or potential practitioner bias. She called for further research to identify the specific causes and to extend these studies to other ethnic groups.

“It’s crucial that pain specialists understand the disparities in multimodal analgesia use and establish standardized protocols to ensure equitable post-surgical pain management,” Dr. Masoudi emphasized.

Ensuring Equitable Medication Safety

During the conference, experts also discussed medication safety in perioperative settings. Dr. Elizabeth Rebello of the Anderson Cancer Center noted that distractions, insufficient training, and fatigue contribute to medication errors. Improved communication, teamwork, smart pumps, and barcoding technology can help reduce these errors.

“Non-punitive reporting and a strong culture of safety are vital to preventing medication errors,” Dr. Rebello said.

Advancing Equitable Post-Surgical Care

Dr. Masoudi concluded, “All patients deserve equal access to the highest standards of pain management, regardless of race. We must address these disparities to ensure fair treatment.”


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