Pain control after major surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the adequacy and efficacy of postoperative pain management.


METHODS
A prospective clinical study.


METHODS
The Georgetown and New Amsterdam Public Hospitals, Guyana.


METHODS
Two hundred consecutive patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.


METHODS
Presence or absence of significant postoperative pain during the first 24 hours.


RESULTS
All the patients experienced pain postoperatively. Sixty one per cent of patients considered their pain severe, 30% rated it moderate and only 9% mild. Reasons for this deficiency of care are partly attributable to the patients themselves and also the health care staff.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative pain is poorly managed in our general hospitals.
Amata
A O
AO
Public Hospital Georgetown, Guyana.
Samaroo
L N
LN
Monplaisir
S N
SN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006172:Guyana; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008614:Meperidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008614:Meperidine