Pain assessment and management in patients after abdominal surgery from PACU to the postoperative unit.

Full Abstract

The aim of this exploratory study was to determine the effectiveness of pain relief for surgical patients (N = 52) in transition from the PACU to the postoperative unit. The study also explored whether there was an association between a verbal numeric pain score (0 to 10) on discharge from the PACU and the duration of time until analgesia was administered in the postoperative unit. Information was obtained about pain management, time of discharge, and patient pain scores on discharge from the PACU, as well as pain scores and the time of first analgesic administered in the postoperative unit. Most patients were discharged from the PACU with a pain score in the mild range (0 to 4), indicating reasonable pain relief. An association existed between the pain score on discharge from the PACU and the duration of time to the first analgesic dose administered on the postoperative unit.

Author information

Author/s: Wilding, Jane R (JR); Manias, Elizabeth (E); McCoy, Diarmuid G L (DG);

Affiliation: Barwon Health, Centre for Education and Practice Development, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. janew(-atsign-)barwonhealth.org.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses / American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (J Perianesth Nurs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 24 (issue 4) : pp 233-40

Dates: Created 2009/08/03; Completed 2009/10/29;

PMID: 19647660, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/29/2009, IMS Date: )

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