title: [Treating acute postoperative pain: evaluation of results on the surgical ward].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe management of acute postoperative pain on the surgical ward. To study the relationship between pain and a variety of surgical procedures and approaches. To determine the level of information patients received, their expectations, and their satisfaction with treatment of postoperative pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational study by survey and review of patient records. We studied 234 patients, including all who were hospitalized for more than 24 hours after scheduled or emergency operations. The main variables recorded were pain intensity at rest and during movement, including on the day after surgery, and the surgical procedure and approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of pain (>3 on a numerical scale) on the surgical ward was 33% at rest and 66% during movement. The prevalence of intense pain (>6 on the numerical scale) was 1.7% at rest and 7.3% during movement. Factors related to greater pain intensity were timing, that is, the first day after surgery, when 74.4% of patients experienced their most intense pain; type of surgery and approach (P<.004); and expecting to experience moderate or intense pain (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recording the prevalence of postoperative pain on a surgical ward provides information about the real situation of acute postoperative pain control. Pain on movement is a principal indicator for detecting groups of patients for whom analgesic protocols could be improved. Type of surgery and approach is a fundamental factor to consider when comparing the results of analgesic protocols.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapia del Dolor, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca. neus.esteve@ssib.es
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ribera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garrido
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verd
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult