Utilization and opioid outcomes of a transitional pain service in high-risk surgical veterans: a cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Pain catastrophizing and substance use markers predicted higher TPS utilization and opioid use, highlighting the value of preoperative psychosocial screening.
Study context
- Population
- Surgical patients managed by a transitional pain service (TPS) at a Veterans Affairs medical center, February 2024 to February 2025
- Participants
- 345 patients
- Outcome
- Postoperative opioid use, TPS duration, provider contacts
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Median postoperative opioid use, MME (IQR 165-428)
- 218
- Median TPS duration, days (IQR 12-36)
- 31
- Median provider contacts (IQR 3-6)
- 5
- Pain catastrophizing, per point: higher opioid use, MME (p=0.023)
- 31
- Pain catastrophizing, per point: additional TPS days (p<0.001)
- 3.9
- Active nicotine use: higher opioid use, β MME (p=0.005)
- 109
- Preoperative opioid ≥50 MME/day: higher opioid use, β MME (p=0.006)
- 169
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Opioid dose at discharge
- Preoperative opioid users (n=88) achieving dose reduction
- 68%
- Full cohort discharged on higher doses
- 3.2%
Original publication
Utilization and opioid outcomes of a transitional pain service in high-risk surgical veterans: a cohort study. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 24 December 2025. doi:10.
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