Acute postoperative pain

Abstract

One of the most important causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality is insufficiently treated pain. Postoperarive pain that could not be treated sufficiently leads to problems like reduction in vital capacity and alveolar ventilation, pneumonia, tachycardia, hypertension, myocardial ischemia and infarction, conversion to chronic pain, delay in wound healing and prolonged hospital stay. These problems may be prevented by successful management of postoperative pain. Acute postoperative pain management is a dynamic process. A detailed preoperative assessment should be done at the beginning and the most appropriate pain management should be provided by utilizing the newest drugs and techniques after estimation of risk- benefit status for each patient. © 2011 Beyaz SG, et al.