Postoperative analgesia

Abstract

Pain is a complex experience consisting of sensory, affective, behavioural and physiological components. The management of pain is therefore best achieved with an approach which acknowledges that the experience of pain is produced through the interaction of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors. Effective pain management requires preoperative patient engagement and education to manage expectations regarding pain relief and an inpatient pain service to coordinate the implementation of evidence-based postoperative pain management protocols and facilitate continuous staff education. Multimodal postoperative analgesia, built on an opioid-sparing ethos, is an essential component of perioperative pain management. Effective pain management enhances recovery after surgery by facilitating early patient mobilization, a reduction in respiratory and cardiac complications and amelioration of the stress response to surgery with consequent improved wound healing. Inadequate pain control can contribute to prolonged hospitalization and the development of chronic postsurgical pain.