REMOTE RECOLLECTION OF PREOPERATIVE PAIN IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING EXCISION OF ENDOMETRIOSIS

To determine the accuracy of postoperative recall of preoperative pain , this prospective, longitudinal study was conducted by a general gyne cologist in private practice at a referral center. Before excision of endometriosis at laparoscopy or laparotomy and again at 6 to 18 months after surgery, 168 patients completed a 5-point scale assessing 11 sy mptoms that may be related to endometriosis. For 6 of the 11 symptoms, over 50% of patients had exact recall of pain level. For 10 symptoms, over 80% recalled their preoperative pain level within +/-1 point Pat ients requiring reoperation were most likely to recall preoperative pa in levels accurately. Those not requiring reoperation tended to inflat e slightly their remote assessment of preoperative pain, indicating th at successfully treated patients tend to forget how much they formerly hurt.