Professional paper

Acute Postoperative Pain Therapy: Current State . Patient Experience

Mirjana Lončarić-Katušin
Marijana Persoli-Gudelj
Nataša Šimić-Korać
Božidar Blažanin
Josip Žunić
Želimir Korać

Abstract

In effective control of acute postoperative pain, it is essential to respect the principles of multimodal balanced analgesia, and to apply them within organized units for the management of acute postoperative pain (acute pain service). The aim of the study was to find out patient expectations and experience in the intensity of acute postoperative pain, and the efficiency of therapy they received. Between October 11, 2002 and December 14, 2002, 103 patients having undergone elective operative procedures under general endotracheal anesthesia were surveyed at Karlovac General Hospital. All patients were asked the preoperative group of questions on the intensity of pain they expected after surgery and on the intensity of pain at which he/she wanted to be given an analgesic. The postoperative group of questions referred to the intensity of pain 24 hours after the operative procedure and to the reason for not taking an analgesic. Results showed that prior to surgery, 33.98% of patients expected mild and 37.86% moderate postoperative pain. After the surgery, most patients felt moderate pain (33.98%). The study showed the therapy for acute postoperative pain and pain control to be still inadequate. The preconditions for successful pain control are the existence of acute pain service and implementation of the multimodal balanced analgesia concept. In this context, it is important to stress the education of patients as well as of the entire team participating in the management of pain.

Keywords

Pain, postoperative - prevention and control; Pain, postoperative - therapy; Analgesia - trends; Patient - satisfaction; Quality of health care

Hrčak ID:

14044

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/14044

Publication date:

1.3.2006.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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