Precision Perioperative Methadone Use in Adult Cardiac Surgical Patients to Reduce Opioid Use Adverse Effects While Improving Analgesia and Outcomes

Cardiac surgery patients often experience significant acute postoperative pain, and untreated or undertreated pain has consequences. Each year, 900,000 painful cardiac surgeries occur in the US alone. Pain associated with cardiac surgery results from surgical incision, sternal retraction, internal mammary artery harvesting, saphenous vein removal, placement of mediastinal and chest drains, sternal wires, and release of pro-inflammatory mediators after tissue injury. One study reported that 49%, 62%, and 78% of patients reported severe pain at rest, movement, and coughing, respectively after co…