[Persistent postoperative pain: new management model in Switzerland]

Prolonged postoperative pain is common after surgery and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life and major socioeconomic consequences. Additionally, there is a high risk of transitioning to chronic pain states. Although specialized care is available for both acute and chronic pain, there is often a lack of guidance or management recommendations for pain that persists in the intermediate period during the first few weeks after surgery, leading patients to rely on potent analgesics, often opioids, for an extended period of time, with their inherent risk of addiction. This article presents the creation of a specialized consultation for these prolonged pain states, aiming to provide better follow-up, reduce the transition to chronicity, and combat the overconsumption of postoperative opioids.