Process of Effective Pain Management

Postoperative Pain Management
The process of postoperative pain management is ongoing. Following intraoperative anesthesia and analgesia, postoperative pain assessment and management begin. Based on the preoperative plan, postoperative drug and nondrug interventions are initiated. Patients should be reassessed at frequent intervals (not less than every 2–4 hours for the first 24 hours) to determine the efficacy of the intervention in reducing pain. If the intervention is ineffective, additional causes of pain should be considered, the plan should then be reevaluated, and appropriate modifications should be made. Pharmacologic interventions should be titrated to achieve optimal pain control with minimal adverse effects. Ongoing reassessment ensures satisfactory pain relief with the most appropriate balance of drug and nondrug strategies.

Discharge Planning
Inpatients, as well as ambulatory surgical patients, should be given a written pain management plan at discharge. Pertinent discharge instructions related to pain management include: specific drugs to be taken; frequency of drug administration; potential side effects of the medication; potential drug interactions; specific precautions to follow when taking the medication (e.g., physical activity limitations, dietary restrictions); and name of the person to notify about pain problems and other postoperative concerns.