Management of acute pain

Publication date: Available online 7 June 2019Source: Surgery (Oxford)Author(s): David Hay, Vanessa NesbittAbstractAcute pain is a common feature in the presentation of surgical and traumatic pathology and in postoperative patients. In pathological presentations acute pain may have a protective role serving as a warning sign, with muscle spasm helping to limit movement and prevent further injury. Acute postoperative pain can hinder recovery due to limited mobility and may lead to a range of complications, increasing patient morbidity and mortality. Timely and effective management of acute pain is therefore imperative. An acute pain service (APS) is able to assist in the management of complex patients and those with specific invasive analgesic interventions. However, the immediate prescribing is the responsibility of the admitting surgical doctor and therefore this article aims to give an overview of the considerations needed to ensure safe and effective management of acute pain.
Source: Surgery (Oxford) - Category: Surgery Source Type: research