Acute Post-Operative Pain Management: Practice Patterns and Treatment Challenges

Abstract

Abstract Background Currently, surgical practice is thought to include postoperative pain management as a necessary component. Nevertheless, a lot of patients experience significant pain after surgery. The objective of the current survey was to evaluate the status of postoperative pain relief and to assess the types and routes of drugs administered for this purpose Method A questionnaire form was used to collect demographic data, type of surgery, anesthesia, and patient satisfaction. Assessment of pain severity was done during the interview using one of the following pain scales: verbal, numerical and visual. This was done 4 and 8 hours after surgery. Before leaving the hospital, patients who were discharged the same day as surgery underwent a single face-to-face interview. Results Of 258 patients, 34.3% experienced moderate to severe pain postoperatively at rest and 31.5 % on movement. No analgesics were prescribed to 7.1 % of the patients and of the remainder, a single analgesic was prescribed to 52.8%. Thyroid & minor abdominal surgery patients had the lowest pain intensity, especially in comparison to those undergoing thoracic and major abdominal surgery. Paracetamol and Diclofenac were the drugs most commonly prescribed (to 98.6 % and 41.4 % of patients respectively), most often on a regular schedule rather than on-demand. Conclusion Despite concerns, in some patient groups, analgesic usage may not be sufficient. However, our study indicates new factors that influence the severity of pain, such as analgesic drugs, anesthetic technique, and type of surgery. Awareness among professionals and the public is needed and a structured pain management program is crucial.