Pain outcomes after intestinal surgery.
Pain sensation and distress in 38 intestinal surgical patients were moderate to severe on postoperative day 1, ranging from 34 to 49 mm and 33 to 45 mm, respectively, on 100-mm scales. During ambulation, both increased from baseline to post-ambulation, P < 0.01. Half of the patients reported severe pain not relieved by analgesics, and although 44% learned a relaxation technique in the past, only 8% used one for pain after this surgery. Pain disturbed the sleep of 34% of the patients, and pain was related to respiratory, intestinal, febrile, and other complications in 18 (47%) subjects. Attentive analgesic use and nonpharmacologic therapies are recommended.
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Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA. mpg@po.cwru.edu
Stanton-Hicks
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M
Grass
J A
JA
Anderson
G C
GC
Salman
A
A
Duber
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*