E-Mail Boston, MA (April 30, 2021) - A new study, presented today at the AATS 101st Annual Meeting, shows significant reduction in post-operative use of Schedule II opioids for pain management following robotic surgery. To address the on-going issues of opioid overuse and abuse, the study aimed to examine the use of painkillers in Enhanced Recovery After Thoracic Surgery (ERATS) protocols and determine the impact of alternative pain management approaches on clinical outcomes. An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained thoracic surgery database was performed on all patients undergoing elective robotic thoracic procedures from 7/1/2019 to 9/14/2020. The main pain management component of ERATS included opioid-sparing analgesics, infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine (a long-acting local anesthetic) 1:1 v/v dilution with normal saline to 9 intercostal spaces as intercostal nerve blocks and to surgical wounds as local and regional analgesia, as-needed potent opioids (schedule II narcotics like oxycodone), scheduled administration of tramadol (weak schedule IV opioid) and tailoring post-discharge opioid dispenses based on type and amount of opioid consumed inpatient. Protocol optimization included replacing saline diluent with 0.25% bupivacaine (a short-acting local anesthetic) and switching round-the-clock administration of tramadol to as-needed scheduling.