Spencer S Liu1, Christopher L Wu. 1. Department of Anesthesiology, The Hospital of Special Surgery, and the Cornell Weill Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effect of postoperative analgesia on patient-reported outcomes, such as quality of life, quality of recovery, and patient satisfaction, has not been systematically examined. These outcomes are assessed from the patient's perspective and are recognized as valid and important end-points in clinical medicine and research. We performed a systematic review to examine the effect of postoperative analgesia on patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: The National Library of Medicine's Medline and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for the past decade (Jan, 1996 to Jun 1, 2006). Additional Medline searches for specific outcomes (i.e., satisfaction, quality of life, and quality of recovery) were also conducted. RESULTS: Regional analgesic techniques provide statistically superior analgesia compared with systemic opioids. There are insufficient data to determine if the type of analgesic technique, degree of analgesia, and presence of side effects may influence quality of life, quality of recovery, satisfaction, and length of stay, due in part to some significant methodologic issues. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are data suggesting that improved postoperative analgesia leads to better patient outcomes, there is insufficient evidence to support subsequent improvements inpatient-centered outcomes such as quality of life and quality of recovery. Modest reductions in pain scores do not necessarily equate to clinically meaningful improved pain relief for the patient. Further studies are needed to develop validated patient-reported instruments and to assess the effect of analgesic techniques on patient-reported outcomes in the perioperative period.
BACKGROUND: The effect of postoperative analgesia on patient-reported outcomes, such as quality of life, quality of recovery, and patient satisfaction, has not been systematically examined. These outcomes are assessed from the patient's perspective and are recognized as valid and important end-points in clinical medicine and research. We performed a systematic review to examine the effect of postoperative analgesia on patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: The National Library of Medicine's Medline and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for the past decade (Jan, 1996 to Jun 1, 2006). Additional Medline searches for specific outcomes (i.e., satisfaction, quality of life, and quality of recovery) were also conducted. RESULTS: Regional analgesic techniques provide statistically superior analgesia compared with systemic opioids. There are insufficient data to determine if the type of analgesic technique, degree of analgesia, and presence of side effects may influence quality of life, quality of recovery, satisfaction, and length of stay, due in part to some significant methodologic issues. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are data suggesting that improved postoperative analgesia leads to better patient outcomes, there is insufficient evidence to support subsequent improvements inpatient-centered outcomes such as quality of life and quality of recovery. Modest reductions in pain scores do not necessarily equate to clinically meaningful improved pain relief for the patient. Further studies are needed to develop validated patient-reported instruments and to assess the effect of analgesic techniques on patient-reported outcomes in the perioperative period.
Authors: Spencer S Liu; Asokumar Buvanendran; James P Rathmell; Mona Sawhney; James J Bae; Mario Moric; Stephen Perros; Ashley J Pope; Lazaros Poultsides; Craig J Della Valle; Naomi S Shin; Colin J L McCartney; Yan Ma; Mahendrakumar Shah; Monica J Wood; Smith C Manion; Thomas P Sculco Journal: Int Orthop Date: 2012-07-29 Impact factor: 3.075
Authors: Marc D Schmittner; Andrea Janke; Christel Weiss; Grietje C Beck; Dieter G Bussen Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2009-03-13 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Brian D Philips; Spencer S Liu; Barbara Wukovits; Friedrich Boettner; Seth Waldman; Gregory Liguori; Stephanie Goldberg; Lisa Goldstein; Joanne Melia; Marion Hare; Laura Jasphey; Sharyn Tondel Journal: HSS J Date: 2009-09-17