title: Acute pain service: past, present and future.
abstract: Post surgical pain is a continuing major medical challenge despite all the advances in understanding acute pain and the development of new modalities of pain management. Since 1985 when the first acute pain service (APS) was started, many organizations initiated APS protocols and guidelines and it became mandatory to have an APS in all major acute care centers. This review focuses on the stages of development of APS and the challenges of postoperative pain management to provide optimal analgesia. Further clinical studies are required to determine best medication regimen for post-operative pain management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, London Health Science Centre, Western University, London Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Qutaiba Amir
authors.initials: QA
authors.lastname: Tawfic
authors.forename: Ali S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Faris
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block; D059408:Pain Management / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: acute pain; analgesia; nociceptive pain; pain perception; postoperative pain