Postoperative pain 2: patient education, assessment and management

Abstract

Postoperative pain is poorly managed, with up to 67% of patients in the U.K. experiencing unnecessary moderate to severe pain. Part 1 of this two part series explored physiological mechanisms involved in the perception of pain and the role of psychological and environmental influences on how patients respond to it. This second part explores the principles of patient assessment and management of postoperative pain, and discusses acute pain analgesic guides.