title: Acute pain management in the postanesthesia care unit.
abstract: Pain management in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is continually evolving, with several new nonopioids expanding the list of available agents. Pain in the PACU is not an inevitable outcome of surgery. With careful planning, multimodal analgesic techniques instituted preoperatively will reduce pain in the PACU. Accurate assessment of the characteristics of pain will direct rational drug choices while minimizing side effects. Better management of pain in the PACU setting will likely improve patient satisfaction and facilitate shorter PACU stays.
authors.affiliation: Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, 111 South 11th Street, Gibbon Suite 8490, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Kishor
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Jaime L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Baratta
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Heitz
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Schwenk
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaghari
authors.forename: Eugene R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Viscusi
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000698:Analgesia; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000758:Anesthesia; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D002404:Catheterization; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011997:Recovery Room / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid