title: [Post-operative pain management in hospitals].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relief of post-operative pain has a bearing on the patient's well-being, mobilisation and time confined to bed. The article discusses indications, contraindications and the efficacy of the various treatment modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have examined review articles, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials, identified through literature searches in PubMed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of several medicines and techniques (multimodal pain treatment) is necessary to achieve a good balance between pain relief, side effects and risk. Systemic administration of paracetamol, NSAIDs, opioids and glucocorticoids is effective for post-operative pain. The same applies to epidural analgesia, peripheral nerve blocks and local anaesthetic wound infiltration. Subanaesthetic doses of ketamine have an opioid-sparing effect, but the optimal dosing regimen is uncertain. Gabapentinoids have an effect on post-operative pain, but the effect appears to vary depending on the type of operation and analgesic regimen. The effect of one analgesic will depend on which other drugs are used in multimodal pain treatment. Epidural analgesia, peripheral nerve blocks or extensive local infiltration analgesia is often necessary to relieve movement-related pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many treatment modalities are effective for post-operative pain. It is crucial that the treatment is well organised and that it includes routines for systematic pain assessment, efficacy and side effects of the pain management.
authors.affiliation: Nasjonalt kompetansesenter for sammensatte lidelser og Avdeling for smerte og sammensatte lidelser, Klinikk for anestesi og akuttmedisin, St. Olavs hospital, Norway. olav.m.fredheim@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Olav Magnus S
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Fredheim
authors.forename: Petter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Borchgrevink
authors.forename: Gunnvald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kvarstein
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D009407:Nerve Block; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000082:Acetaminophen