MANAGEMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN ON SURGICAL WARDS

Many studies have demonstrated that the management of pain after surge ry was unsatisfactory. New pain management techniques have been develo ped in recent years (patient-controlled analgesia, epidural analgesia) . To extend the number of patients who may benefit from these recent t echniques and/or to obtain the best efficacy from existing methods of pain relief, re-organisation should take place on surgical wards. For example, protocols describing pain management strategies should be wri tten. Surveys and audits should be carried out regularly to check thei r efficacy. Moreover, patients should be fully informed of the range o f treatments available and their adverse effects. Finally, all staff i nvolved in providing acute pain relief should undergo training. (C) 19 98 Elsevier, Paris.