Postoperative analgesia

Publication date: Available online 18 January 2019

Source: Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine

Author(s): Katharine C. Ireland, Abdul G. Lalkhen

Abstract

Pain is a complex experience consisting of sensory, affective, behavioural and physiological components. Pain management is therefore best achieved through an approach which acknowledges the complex interaction between biological, psychological and sociocultural factors. Effective pain management requires preoperative patient engagement and education in order to manage expectations and a structured inpatient service to facilitate evidence-based postoperative pain management and continuous staff education. Multimodal postoperative analgesia, built on an opioid-sparing ethos, is one component of postoperative pain management and is essential for achieving patient satisfaction and enhanced recovery. Effective pain management facilitates early mobilization and a reduction in respiratory and cardiac complications, reducing the stress response to surgery in turn improving wound healing and recovery. Inadequate pain control can lead to higher morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays and the development of chronic postoperative pain.

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