Advances in perioperative analgesia: Current challenges

摘要

Perioperative regional anesthetic and analgesic techniques have evolved considerably in recent years, mainly related to the use of improved technology and better medications. It was only a decade ago that a revealing survey polling adults who had undergone a recent surgical procedure found that 80% of patients experienced pain post surgery, and this pain was described by the majority as the single most common concern related to the operation. As many as 86% of these patients described their pain as moderate, severe, or extreme [1]. In this regard, aggressive perioperative pain prevention can be beneficial in terms of recovery, mitigating potential pathophysiological processes. Aggressive pain management is directly related to hospital morbidity and can help reduce duration of hospital stay. When pain is not treated satisfactorily, it can add to the burden of growing health-care costs [2-4].