W Jaksch1, R Likar2, U Frohner3, F Herbst4. 1. Abteilung für Anästhesie, Intensiv- und Schmerzmedizin, Wilhelminenspital, Montleartstraße 37, 1160, Wien, Österreich. wolfgang.jaksch@wienkav.at. 2. Klinikum Klagenfurt am Wörtersee, Klagenfurt am Wörtersee, Österreich. 3. Österreichischer Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegeverband, Wien, Österreich. 4. Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Sigmund-Freud-Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pain after surgery, especially on the first postoperative day, results in longer hospital stays, increased complication rates and may also cause a higher risk of pain chronification. However, the expected intensity of pain is often misjudged and therefore not adequately treated. METHODOLOGY: An Austria-wide patient survey on the pain situation on the first postoperative day and on the quality of perioperative pain management was carried out on a voluntary and anonymous basis. RESULTS: Regarding the intensity of pain a clear gender difference could be observed. Women were more prone to more severe pain than men across all age groups. This difference was most pronounced in the younger age groups (18-40 years) and in those patients showing the highest pain scores. Treatment satisfaction was correlated (high significance) with pain intensity on exercise (p < 0.01), maximum pain (p < 0.01), least pain (<0.01) and frequency of postoperative pain assessment. DISCUSSION: The risk of postoperative pain can be reduced by optimal care structures. Since patients treated in optimal care structures had significantly lower pain scores on exercise and with respect to maximum pain, the investment in the optimization of such resources should be carefully planned. Special attention should be paid to postoperative pain management in women, especially in younger female patients.
BACKGROUND:Pain after surgery, especially on the first postoperative day, results in longer hospital stays, increased complication rates and may also cause a higher risk of pain chronification. However, the expected intensity of pain is often misjudged and therefore not adequately treated. METHODOLOGY: An Austria-wide patient survey on the pain situation on the first postoperative day and on the quality of perioperative pain management was carried out on a voluntary and anonymous basis. RESULTS: Regarding the intensity of pain a clear gender difference could be observed. Women were more prone to more severe pain than men across all age groups. This difference was most pronounced in the younger age groups (18-40 years) and in those patients showing the highest pain scores. Treatment satisfaction was correlated (high significance) with pain intensity on exercise (p < 0.01), maximum pain (p < 0.01), least pain (<0.01) and frequency of postoperative pain assessment. DISCUSSION: The risk of postoperative pain can be reduced by optimal care structures. Since patients treated in optimal care structures had significantly lower pain scores on exercise and with respect to maximum pain, the investment in the optimization of such resources should be carefully planned. Special attention should be paid to postoperative pain management in women, especially in younger female patients.
Authors: Hans J Gerbershagen; Esther Pogatzki-Zahn; Sanjay Aduckathil; Linda M Peelen; Teus H Kappen; Albert J M van Wijck; Cor J Kalkman; Winfried Meissner Journal: Anesthesiology Date: 2014-05 Impact factor: 7.892
Authors: Tong J Gan; Ashraf S Habib; Timothy E Miller; William White; Jeffrey L Apfelbaum Journal: Curr Med Res Opin Date: 2013-11-15 Impact factor: 2.580
Authors: Hans J Gerbershagen; Sanjay Aduckathil; Albert J M van Wijck; Linda M Peelen; Cor J Kalkman; Winfried Meissner Journal: Anesthesiology Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 7.892
Authors: Dan Benhamou; Marco Berti; Gerhard Brodner; Jose De Andres; Gaetano Draisci; Mariano Moreno-Azcoita; Edmund A M Neugebauer; Wolfgang Schwenk; Luis Miguel Torres; Eric Viel Journal: Pain Date: 2007-08-20 Impact factor: 6.961