Study of incidence of post-operative pain among Nigerian patients.

The incidence of post-operative pain was determined among 200 adult Nigerian patients who presented for a variety of surgical procedures. The overall incidence of moderate to severe post-operative pain was 68% while the remaining 32% complained of only mild pain. When the results were categorized according to the site and type of surgery, the highest incidence of pain were found following surgery of anorectal region (90%), thoracotomy (88%), major joints (88%) and upper abdomen (80%). The use of opiates pre-operatively for premedication and anaesthetic techniques using intra-operative opiates or ketamine delay the onset and reduce the severity of post-operative pain. No sex difference was observed but elderly patients (especially above 50 years of age) tended to have lower pain ratings.