Preoperative Optimization for Perioperative Analgesia

The perioperative analgesic plan begins with preoperative planning. The surgeon should be versed in practical approaches for managing analgesia in patients with chronic pain. The first step includes evaluating the patient and conducting a focused pain history. Confirming, documenting, and understanding current outpatient prescriptions is critical. Patients should be screened for medical conditions that preclude the use of certain analgesics, or place them at higher risk of respiratory depression. Providers should coordinate with the patient's outpatient prescribers and pain specialists to ensure a safe and effective analgesic plan. Multimodal analgesia should be implemented to optimize analgesia and decrease opioid requirements.