The "oligoanalgesia problem" in the emergency care.
BACKGROUND
Pain is a common occurrence in trauma victims that provokes harmful effects on the body. However, there is a gap in the literature about this problem, which is still underevaluated and undertreated in Brazil, especially concerning the use of opioids.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate pain intensity and the use of analgesia in traffic accident victims.


METHODS
A prospective study, involving 100 accident victims (traffic accidents), who were interviewed at 2 separate posttraumatic moments, in a reference hospital of the city of São Paulo. All the medications used for these victims were recorded. All patients displayed a Glasgow Coma Scale (ECGl) of 15, had stable hemodynamic parameters, and were brought directly from the scene of the accident.


RESULTS
Pain of moderate and severe intensity (in 90% of cases) was the most noted. After a 3-hour period, a significant number of patients with pain (48%) continued without analgesia, and few opioids were used.


CONCLUSIONS
Pain is a common event associated with trauma. It is still undertreated and underevaluated in Brazil, and the use of opioids for admittedly very severe pain is not frequently employed in the Emergency Service even in hemodynamically stable patients and with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 15.
Calil
Ana Maria
AM
School of Nursing, University of São PauloSP, Brasil.
Pimenta
Cibele Andracioli de Mattos
CA
Birolini
Dário
D
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000700:Analgesics