Severity and impact of pain after day-surgery

To assess the intensity, duration and impact of pain after day-surgery interventions. Predictors of pain severity were also evaluated along with the quality of analgesic practices and patient satisfaction.

Eighty-nine consecutive day-surgery patients completed self-administered questionnaires before leaving the hospital and at 24, 48 hr and seven days after discharge. The survey instrument was composed of 0-10 pain intensity scales, selected items of the Brief Pain Inventory, of the Patient Outcome Questionnaire and of the Barriers Questionnaire. Analgesic intake in hospital and at home was recorded along with the use of other pain control methods.

Forty percent of the patients reported moderate to severe pain during the first 24 hr after hospital discharge. The pain decreased with time but it was severe enough to interfere with daily activities in a substantial number of patients. The best predictor of severe pain at home was inadequate pain control during the first few hours following the surgery. More than 80% of the participants were satisfied with their pain treatment. However, one patient in four (25%) needed contact with a health care provider because of pain at home. Many patients (33% to 51%) reported that instructions about pain control were either unclear or non-existent on several aspects. Medication use was low overall. Thirty-two percent of the patients did not take any pain medication during the first 24 hr after discharge although almost half of them (46%) rated their pain > or = 4. The most common concerns patients had about using pain medication were fear of drug addiction and side effects.

The severity and duration of pain after day-surgery should not be underestimated. Aggressive analgesic treatment during the hospital stay should be provided along with take-home analgesia protocols and comprehensive patient education programs.