Peer Reviewed
Feature Article

The challenges of postoperative pain

Graciela Lazatin Tanjuatco, Stephan A Schug
An updated version is available in the linked supplement
Abstract

Inadequate postoperative pain control is a frequent reason for patients to contact their GP after discharge from hospital. Postoperative pain impairs recovery and rehabilitation, and should be treated with judiciously prescribed analgesics and, when necessary, referral to pain medicine specialists.

Key Points
    • Patients with postoperative pain most often present to their GPs rather than returning to the hospital, particularly after ambulatory surgery and with current trends for early discharge.
    • Appropriate analgesics should be provided to such patients and any treatable causes of postoperative pain should be identified.
    • Acute pain can progress to chronic pain, so should be adequately managed to prevent this occurring.
    • Psychological, behavioural, environmental and social factors influence pain and may contribute to the progression from acute to chronic pain.
    • Patients exhibiting hyperalgesia, opioid tolerance and/or addictive behaviour (including aberrant medication taking) should be identified and, if necessary, referred to pain specialists.
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