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2013
Awards
opioid analgesics result in shorter stays, reduced costs and less opioid
consumption — and, of course, less opioid-related adverse events. As
important, they effectively control pain.
"One of the greatest hurdles in outpatient surgery is the fact that
post-operative pain needs to be controlled before the patient can be
discharged," says Vicki V. Schultz, RN, CASC, president of the Texas
Health Women's Specialty Surgery Center in Dallas.
And controlling pain without using narcotics can be especially
challenging when it comes to procedures such as laparoscopic hysterectomies, laparoscopic cholecystectomies and thyroidectomies,
says Ms. Schultz. But in addition to other concerns, narcotics can
cause PONV, increased drowsiness and urine retention, all of which
can significantly delay discharge.
"After several studies on pain control, we have found the best
method to decrease narcotic usage is preemptive analgesia," says Ms.
Schultz. Additionally, surgeons at the center inject a local anesthetic
at the incision site. The combination has resulted in a marked reduction in post-op pain.
"We've also noticed that post-operative patients are ambulating
sooner, experiencing much less urinary retention and having less
nausea," says Ms. Schultz.
"Our No. 1 goal is our patient's comfort and care," she adds.
"Preemptive analgesia has made all the difference in our patients'
ability to progress through the outpatient surgical process with as
— Jim Burger
little pain as possible."
S E P T E M B E R 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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