Effects of an Opioid Free Person-Centred Care Pathway for Patients undergoing Obesity Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Goal and background

This project will determine the effects of opioid-free anaesthesia with or without person-centred care compared to conventional opioid-based anaesthesia on recovery after surgery up to 24 months after surgery.

Increased opioid consumption and opioid-related mortality worldwide is challenging. Due to its documented anaesthetic properties, opioids are still one of the cornerstones of modern anaesthesia. However, opioid use is strongly associated with several dose-dependent sideeffects; increased postoperative pain, respiratory depression, nausea and bladder/bowel dysfunction. It's crucial to reduce the usage of opioids during operative procedures because postoperative pain and nausea prolongs recovery and is a predictor for chronic pain. Furthermore, there is evidence of opioid-induced immunosuppression as well as cognitive and physical impairment after surgery. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery are more vulnerable to opioid treatment than the general population. Studies have shown an increased risk for persistent opioid consumption, chronic abdominal pain and other opioid-induced sideeffects. Thus, minimising opioid treatment is of great value for patients and society.

Specific aims

To determine the effects of opioid-free anaesthesia compared to conventional opioidbased anaesthesia on the cognitive and physical quality of recovery after surgery and QoL after surgery (cognition, emotion/pain, functional status, patient satisfaction/experience with surgery/anaesthesia during 3, 6, 12 and 24 months)

To determine the impact of person-centred care combined with opioid-free anaesthesia compare to conventional opioid-based anaesthesia on the cognitive and physical quality of recovery and QoL after surgery (3, 6, 12 and 24 months)

To achieve this, we will use data collected during an ongoing national randomised controlled study (May 2019-Dec 2024).