TITLE:
Rapid Buprenorphine Micro-Induction in Pregnant Patients with Opioid Use Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study
AUTHORS:
Jordan Needens, Rebecca Hicks, Emily Sloane, Laurel Thomas, Melissa Niehls, Kate Billups, Taylor Burke, Michael Derosa, David Chaffin, Jesse Cottrell
KEYWORDS:
Pregnancy, Opioid Use Disorder, Buprenorphine, Micro-Induction, Substance Abuse
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.16 No.10,
October
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: We aimed to evaluate whether a rapid buprenorphine micro-induction protocol reduces hospital length of stay and readmission rates in pregnant patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). A retrospective cohort study of pregnant patients with OUD admitted between January 2020 and December 2021 was performed. Primary outcomes were hospital length of stay and readmission rates. Ninety-eight patients were included. Forty-five (45.9%) underwent rapid buprenorphine micro-induction. Mean hospital length of stay was 2.63 ± 1.95 days in the rapid induction group compared with 3.37 ± 4.96 days in historical controls. Readmission rates were 20% in the rapid induction cohort versus 63.6% in traditional induction groups. Rapid buprenorphine micro-induction was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in hospital length of stay and readmission rates in pregnant patients with OUD.