Postcesarean analgesia: effective strategies and association with chronic pain

The management of postoperative pain after cesarean section slightly differs from that of the general surgical population, specifically women need to recover quickly to take care of their newborn baby. Optimal pain management is imperative for the success of immediate-term and long-term rehabilitation and this principle applies to obstetric patients. There is growing evidence that perioperative pain management has consequences extending well beyond the immediate recovery period. Unrelieved postoperative pain is a striking risk factor for the development of residual pain.

A recent study has highlighted that chronic pain may be a significant clinical problem after cesarean section. Among the risk factors, recalls of severe acute postoperative pain led to the reconsideration of postoperative pain management after cesarean delivery. Current published data agree that drug combinations, that is, multimodal or balanced analgesia, are mandatory to achieve satisfactory and effective pain relief with reduced side effects.

The use of balanced analgesia has significantly improved acute pain management after cesarean section. Future studies should extend their investigations beyond the first 48 h and consider the long-term effects of different analgesic regimens, that is, those that alter the development of residual pain.