POSTOPERATIVE PAIN CONTROL

Course overview

POSTOPERATIVE PAIN IS EXPERIENCED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF PATIENTS WHO UNDERGO SURGICAL PROCEDURES. CONTROL OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN FACILITATING A PATIENT’S RECOVERY TO NORMAL FUNCTION AND REDUCES THE INCIDENCE OF ADVERSE PHYSIOLOGIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE, UNCONTROLLED PAIN. POSTOPERATIVE PAIN CONTROL MAY BE ACHIEVED BY A VARIETY OF MECHANISMS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) THE USE OF PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS AND INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE INDICATIONS, EVALUATION, TREATMENT, AND IMPLICATIONS OF PAIN CONTROL IN THE POSTOPERATIVE PATIENT.