Postsurgical Pain Decreased During the Last Decade

A new study shows that advances in pain management have resulted in a significant reduction in pain severity among postsurgical patients.

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center (Chicago, IL, USA) surveyed 441 patients before they were discharged from the hospital and one, two, and three weeks after surgery. The survey asked patients to grade their levels of pain intensity on a visual scale, and also to rate their satisfaction with the pain medication they were given. The researchers then compared the collected survey data with data from a similar 2003 study.

The results showed that the number of patients who experienced moderate-to-severe pain two weeks after surgery decreased from 63% in the 2003 study to 39% in the present study, a 24% reduction. The proportion of patients reporting "no pain" remained the same in both studies, at 22%. Most patients (in both studies) reported that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their pain management. The study was presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual meeting, held during October 2014 in New Orleans (LA, USA).

“During the last 10 years there have been significant changes in hospitals to support better pain management post-surgery. Greater awareness among health care providers and the implementation of advanced pain measures have led to great improvements,” said lead author and study presenter Asokumar Buvanendran, MD, director of orthopedic anesthesia at RUMC. “Our study shows that health care providers are implementing better pain protocols and heading in the right direction; we are moving forward, but there is still plenty to be done to improve pain management and the quality of health care.”

Increased measures put in place by hospitals and the involvement of perioperative physicians such as physician anesthesiologists are leading to fewer incidences of moderate to severe pain among postsurgical patients. Pain reduction is important, since persistent pain is one of the three most common medical causes that delay a patient from going home.

Related Links:
Rush University Medical Center