Thomas Hickey, MD, MS
Assistant ProfessorCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Buprenorphine: a “win-win” for acute postoperative pain
Hickey T, Viscusi E. Buprenorphine: a “win-win” for acute postoperative pain. Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2026, rapm-2026-107648. PMID: 41708278, DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2026-107648.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe past is prologue: Reconceptualizing methadone and buprenorphine for post-operative pain.
Hickey T, Zhang Y, Acampora G. The past is prologue: Reconceptualizing methadone and buprenorphine for post-operative pain. Journal Of Opioid Management 2026, 22: 29-35. PMID: 41774069, DOI: 10.5055/jom.0968.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPost-operative pain controlTreatment of opioid use disorderMultimodal analgesia strategyPost-operative painPerioperative pain managementOpioid use disorderAnalgesic requirementsAnalgesia strategyOpioid analgesicsPain controlAdjuvant strategiesPain managementUse disorderOpioidAnalgesicBuprenorphineMethadone
2025
Buccal Buprenorphine for Postoperative Analgesia After Thoracic Surgery: Results of a Retrospective Cohort.
Hopkins R, Kudaravalli K, Pittman B, Woodard G, Dhanasopon A, Perrino A, Hickey T. Buccal Buprenorphine for Postoperative Analgesia After Thoracic Surgery: Results of a Retrospective Cohort. Pain Medicine Case Reports 2025, 9: 269-274. PMID: 41031868.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRetrospective cohort studyBuccal buprenorphineAcute pain managementPostoperative pain managementThoracic surgeryPain managementPain outcomesBuccal formulationsMinimally invasive lung surgeryRetrospective cohort study of patientsManagement of acute postoperative painCohort study of patientsAssociated with reduced painOpioid-naive patientsPersistent opioid useMultimodal analgesia strategyAcute postoperative painPerioperative pain managementFormulation of buprenorphineLong-term outcomesStudy of patientsAgonist opioidsPostoperative painAnalgesia strategyRetrospective reviewBuccal Buprenorphine for Postoperative Analgesia After Major Orthopedic Surgery: Results of a Retrospective Cohort.
Hopkins R, Kudaravalli K, Pittman B, Pour A, Perrino A, Hickey T. Buccal Buprenorphine for Postoperative Analgesia After Major Orthopedic Surgery: Results of a Retrospective Cohort. Pain Medicine Case Reports 2025, 9: 235-241. PMID: 40900458.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBuccal buprenorphineAcute pain managementPain managementPain outcomesAgonist opioidsOrthopedic surgeryBuccal formulationsUS Food and Drug Administration approvalFood and Drug Administration approvalOpioid naive patientsOrthopedic surgery populationMultimodal analgesic regimenChronic pain managementRetrospective chart reviewCohort of patientsPostoperative pain managementFormulation of buprenorphineMajor orthopedic surgeryDrug Administration approvalSuperior safety profileHomogeneous patient populationUsual careOpioid use disorderAnalgesic regimenRetrospective reviewEstablishing Buprenorphine for Acute Postoperative Pain Management
Abelleira A, Hickey T. Establishing Buprenorphine for Acute Postoperative Pain Management. Journal Of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy 2025, 39: 555-566. PMID: 40622433, DOI: 10.1080/15360288.2025.2524688.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid analgesicsPain managementAcute perioperative pain managementAcute postoperative pain managementEffective opioid analgesicPerioperative pain managementPostoperative pain managementFormulation of buprenorphineTreatment of painOpioid use disorderOpioid-related outcomesAgonist opioidsPostoperative painPerioperative administrationOpioid harmsPain outcomesOpioid buprenorphineSurgical populationBuccal formulationsOpioidPainBuprenorphineUse disorderBuccal filmsClinical pathwayPharmacological and behavioral pain treatment strategies for patients with opioid use disorder
Ameral V, Hickey T, Reilly E, Patterson J, Sofuoglu M. Pharmacological and behavioral pain treatment strategies for patients with opioid use disorder. Expert Opinion On Pharmacotherapy 2025, 26: 1041-1054. PMID: 40366730, PMCID: PMC12202159, DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2025.2506688.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid agonist treatmentOpioid use disorderChronic painUse disorderCochrane Central Register of Controlled TrialsCentral Register of Controlled TrialsEffective management of painPain treatment strategiesRegister of Controlled TrialsManagement of painCochrane Central RegisterAgonist treatmentPharmacological optionsTreatment strategiesPainOpioidEffective treatmentControlled TrialsBehavioral treatmentTreatmentPatientsDisordersMedical careEffective managementEffective medical careCurrent state of anesthesiology experience with buprenorphine for pain management: results of a nationwide survey
Hopkins R, MacLean R, Pittman B, Missair A, Gaiser R, Perrino A, Hickey T. Current state of anesthesiology experience with buprenorphine for pain management: results of a nationwide survey. Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine 2025, rapm-2025-106692. PMID: 40360200, DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2025-106692.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute Pain Management in People With Opioid Use Disorder : A Systematic Review.
Buonora M, Mackey K, Khalid L, Hickey T, Grimshaw A, Moss M, Starrels J, Alford D, Becker W, Weimer M. Acute Pain Management in People With Opioid Use Disorder : A Systematic Review. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2025, 178: 558-570. PMID: 40096692, DOI: 10.7326/annals-24-01917.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderOUD outcomesAcute pain interventionsAcute pain managementPain interventionsPain outcomesEmergency departmentPain managementObservational studyUse disorderImprove pain-related outcomesPerioperative settingEffectiveness of pain interventionsPain-related outcomesWell-conducted randomized controlled trialsImprove pain outcomesAcute painful episodesStrength of evidence assessmentIntravenous (IVControlled observational studiesNon-U.S. populationsEffectiveness of interventionsRandomized Controlled TrialsOral clonidineRisk of biasResponse 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 Research