title: Challenges in acute pain management.
abstract: The management of acute pain remains challenging, with many patients suffering inadequate pain control following surgery. Certain populations are at unique risk for unrelieved pain. Evidence-based approaches taking into account patients' specific needs and problems will likely substantially improve their perioperative experience. These patients must be identified in the preoperative process, and an anesthetic/analgesic plan discussed and formulated. A targeted multimodal approach to pain management should be considered the best clinical practice. The most challenging patients may benefit most from the surveillance of an acute pain service that is able to monitor and coordinate care into the postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 111 South 11th Street, Suite 8490, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Kishor.gandhi@jefferson.edu
authors.forename: Kishor
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Heitz
authors.forename: Eugene R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Viscusi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid