Acute pain control and accelerated postoperative surgical recovery

Abstract

Postoperative pain relief continues to demand our awareness, and surgeons should be fully aware of the potential physiologic benefits of effective dynamic pain relief regimens and the great potential to improve postoperative outcome if such analgesia is used for rehabilitation. To achieve advantageous effects, accelerated multimodal postoperative recovery programs should be developed as a multidisciplinary effort, with integration of postoperative pain management into a postoperative rehabilitation program. This requires revision of traditional care programs, which should be adjusted according to recent knowledge within surgical pathophysiology. Such efforts must be expected to lead to improved quality of care for patients, with less pain and reduced morbidity leading to cost efficiency.