Acute postoperative pain: the cause and the care

Although pain is one of the most difficult phenomena to measure, in recent decades giant steps have been taken in its effective control. A lack of knowledge in the area of pain and inordinate fear of the side effects of analgesic drugs used to treat pain limit the advances in control of postoperative pain. To address this deficiency, this article highlights the important determinants in the control of postoperative pain. Some of the factors that influence an individual's perception of pain will be described. A review of the more commonly used routes and modes of drug administration in such treatment will be presented, followed by a discussion of the side effects, both positive and negative, of the opioids that can be used. Finally, some of these opioid drugs will be described.