Thomas Hickey, MD, MS
Assistant ProfessorCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Response to the letter to the editor
Hickey T, Avila-Quintero V, De Aquino J. Response to the letter to the editor. Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2025, rapm-2025-106481. PMID: 39929637, DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2025-106481.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBuprenorphine versus full agonist opioids for acute postoperative pain management: an infographic
Hickey T, Costa G, Avila-Quintero V, De Aquino J. Buprenorphine versus full agonist opioids for acute postoperative pain management: an infographic. Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2025, rapm-2024-106304. PMID: 39793993, DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2024-106304.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBuprenorphine versus full agonist opioids for acute postoperative pain management: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Hickey T, Costa G, Oliveira D, Podosek A, Abelleira A, Avila-Quintero V, De Aquino J. Buprenorphine versus full agonist opioids for acute postoperative pain management: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2025, rapm-2024-106014. PMID: 39753290, DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2024-106014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute postoperative pain managementPostoperative pain managementAcute postoperative painDuration of analgesiaPain intensityPain managementRandomized controlled trialsRisk of biasAgonist opioidsPostoperative painControlled trialsRescue analgesiaMeta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsMean duration of analgesiaRescue analgesia useLong duration of actionCochrane Central Register of Controlled TrialsSafety of buprenorphineCentral Register of Controlled TrialsMeta-analysisRegister of Controlled TrialsRandom-effects meta-analysisAdverse effectsDuration of actionCochrane Central RegisterFrom Chronic Opioids for Pain to Microgram Buprenorphine: Key Factors in an Increasingly Recommended Transition.
Hickey T, Hitt J. From Chronic Opioids for Pain to Microgram Buprenorphine: Key Factors in an Increasingly Recommended Transition. Pain Physician 2025, 28: 59-67. PMID: 39903018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid therapyBuprenorphine exposureTotal dose of opioidsVeterans Health AdministrationChronic opioid therapyDoses of opioidsChronic pain managementOutpatient opioid prescriptionsReducing opioid useFull-agonist opioidsPrescription of buprenorphineTransition to buprenorphineAssociated with lower oddsVeterans Affairs Corporate Data WarehouseBaseline opioidChronic opioidsOpioid doseAgonist opioidsOpioid exposureHealth AdministrationOpioid prescriptionsOpioid useSurrogate markerLarge-scale observational studiesBuprenorphine initiation
2024
A Simple Screening Tool Reduces Unnecessary Preoperative Evaluation for Cataract Surgery.
Hickey T, Kempton J, Federman D. A Simple Screening Tool Reduces Unnecessary Preoperative Evaluation for Cataract Surgery. Quality Management In Health Care 2024 PMID: 39680370, DOI: 10.1097/qmh.0000000000000491.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPrimary Care EvaluationScreening toolCare EvaluationCataract surgeryPrimary care provider referralPreoperative evaluationPreoperative testingImprove patient outcomesProvider referralProvider evaluationPatient outcomesPatient chartsLow riskSurgeryCataractScreeningIncreased costsPatientsReferralProcess improvementInterventionEvaluationOutcomesDecreaseEvaluating the Safety of Empiric Tamsulosin to Prevent Postoperative Urinary Retention in a Colorectal Surgery Recovery Pathway
Schultz K, Butensky S, Hickey T, Ahuja V, Perkal M, Murthy S, Cavallo J, Leeds I. Evaluating the Safety of Empiric Tamsulosin to Prevent Postoperative Urinary Retention in a Colorectal Surgery Recovery Pathway. Annals Of Surgery Open 2024, 5: e511-e511. PMID: 39711672, PMCID: PMC11661766, DOI: 10.1097/as9.0000000000000511.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBuprenorphine: An anesthesia-centric review.
Hickey T, Acampora G. Buprenorphine: An anesthesia-centric review. Journal Of Opioid Management 2024, 20: 503-527. PMID: 39775451, DOI: 10.5055/jom.0901.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderEffective analgesic alternativeEffective opioid analgesicOpioid-tolerant patientsMultimodal analgesia strategyLong duration of actionPatients prescribed buprenorphineChronic pain managementDiscontinuation of buprenorphineFormulation of buprenorphineDuration of actionAnalgesic alternativeContinuing buprenorphineDose adjustmentNonopioid analgesicsAnalgesia strategyOpioid analgesicsChronic painImprove patient outcomesTemporary discontinuationPerioperative painPain managementPerioperative periodBuprenorphineUse disorderBuprenorphine Facilitates Rapid Weaning From Very-High-Dose Intrathecal Hydromorphone
Hickey T, Manepalli A, Hitt J. Buprenorphine Facilitates Rapid Weaning From Very-High-Dose Intrathecal Hydromorphone. Cureus 2024, 16: e59134. PMID: 38803786, PMCID: PMC11129534, DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59134.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhenomenon of opioid-induced hyperalgesiaPost-laminectomy pain syndromeChronic opioid therapyOpioid-induced hyperalgesiaLow-dose buprenorphineIntrathecal hydromorphoneOpioid escalationOpioid doseOpioid therapyIntrathecal deliveryPain syndromeDaily doseSevere functional limitationsPain managementClinical challengeOpioidPatientsTransition patientsPainBuprenorphineDoseFunctional limitationsHyperalgesiaTherapyHydromorphone
2023
Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Meets Intraperitoneal Surgery: No Place to Inflate?
Hickey T, Jayakumar S, Perrino A. Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Meets Intraperitoneal Surgery: No Place to Inflate? Cureus 2023, 15: e35318. PMID: 36968928, PMCID: PMC10038649, DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35318.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSevere pulmonary hypertensionPulmonary hypertensionPoor operative outcomesRight ventricular preloadRisk-benefit ratioElective cholecystectomyPneumoperitoneum resultsPerioperative managementVentricular preloadLaparoscopic approachOperative outcomesIntraperitoneal surgeryMechanical ventilationCardiac outputFavorable outcomeSuccessful case managementLaparoscopic proceduresCardiopulmonary insultCase managementMultidisciplinary approachHypertensionPatientsSurgeryOutcomesDeleterious effectsPerioperative Management of Extended-Release Buprenorphine: A Narrative Review and Case Series
Hickey T, Meeks T, Oxentine H, Park D, Abelleira A, Edens E, Gordon A, Acampora G. Perioperative Management of Extended-Release Buprenorphine: A Narrative Review and Case Series. Substance Use & Addiction Journal 2023, 44: 96-103. PMID: 37226900, DOI: 10.1177/08897077231167043.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExtended-release buprenorphinePerioperative managementPerioperative experienceNarrative reviewOutpatient inguinal hernia repairFull agonist opioidsSeries of patientsOpioid use disorderCases of patientsCommon clinical challengeInguinal hernia repairVariety of surgeriesDifferent medical centersDisorder treatment providersNationwide healthcare systemMultimodal analgesiaAgonist opioidsCase seriesBuprenorphine formulationsInpatient surgeryCase reportProspective dataClinical dataHernia repairClinical challenge