The Robotic Opioid-free Prostatectomy Enhanced Strategy (ROPES) study will implement and systematically evaluate an opioid-free discharge pathway (OFP) after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Brigham \& Women's Faulkner Hospital. Patients are counseled pre-operatively and offered participation. Data will be compared across three prospectively studied groups: pre-implementation historical baseline (current practice), post-implementation ROPES with multimodal analgesia pathway alone (which requires patients to call phone line after discharge to request opioid if pain uncontrolled), and post-implementation ROPES with multimodal analgesia pathway plus up-front small opioid prescription. Standardized multimodal analgesic therapy is provided to all participating patients following study implementation, with opioids used only as needed. There is no change to the surgery and anesthesia plan (though standard care at our center includes injection of local anesthetic to incisions and ketorolac is encouraged at end of the procedure), and patients are allowed opioids while admitted to the post-op recovery area. The study aims to reduce postoperative opioid use while maintaining safety and quality outcomes; this will assess non-inferiority of ROPES OFP in comparison to standard opioid prescribing. Results may inform wider practice change within both our center, the field of urology, and perhaps surgical care more broadly.
