Post-Operative Management and Nursing Care Using The Nursing Process Part 2

1.2. Post-operative Pain

Post-operative Pain

Post-operative pain should be assessed and managed according to the WHO pain ladder. When prescribing an analgesic regimen, the expectations and fears of the patient, the nature of surgery, contraindications to certain analgesics and suitability for a regional anaesthetic block should be considered. Pre-existing chronic pain problems (eg being on analgesics before surgery) can make post-operative pain management more difficult. Surgical complications (e.g. bleeding or perforation) should be considered when pain is disproportionate to the clinical situation or new in onset. Additionally, chronic pain syndromes may develop as a complication of acute post-operative pain.