title: Pain control after major surgery.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Public Hospital Georgetown, Guyana.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Amata
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Samaroo
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Monplaisir
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008614:Meperidine