Balanced analgesia - What is it and what are its advantages in postoperative pain?

The concept of balanced analgesia was introduced to improve analgesic effic acy and reduce adverse effects. A large amount of clinical data has documen ted improved analgesia by combining different analgesics, but data on reduc ing adverse effects are inconclusive. Balanced analgesia should be used whe never possible, and future studies should be directed to define optimal com bination regimens in individual surgical procedures.