title: Predictors of acute postoperative pain after elective surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Objectives:Despite efforts to improve acute postoperative pain management, a substantial number of patients still experience moderate to severe pain during the immediate postoperative days. The purpose of the present study was to identify predictors of moderate to severe acute postoperative pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methods: A total of 1490 patients undergoing heterogeneous surgical procedures recorded their pain 3 times a day on a 100-mm visual analog scale from the day before the operation until 5 days postoperation. For each postoperative day, pain intensity was classified as moderate when the mean pain score was 41 to 74mm and as "severe when the mean pain score was 75 to 100 mm. Using logistic regression analyses, we examined the predictive value of a comprehensive set of preoperative and perioperative variables for moderate to severe pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results: The most important predictors seemed to be; preoperative pain, expected pain, surgical fear, and pain catastrophizing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Discussion: Several predictive factors of postoperative pain were identified in this study. These factors could be taken into account in postoperative pain management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Treatment, University Hospital Maastricht, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: Janneke M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Rijke
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Kleef
authors.forename: Alfons G H
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kessels
authors.forename: Madelon L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: José W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Geurts
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patijn
authors.forename: Hans-Fritz
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Gramke
authors.forename: Marco A E
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marcus
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen