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M O N T H 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT 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
the days and weeks of recovery. Every
patient experience is different, but the
amount of tissue dissection required in
their surgery plays a role in post-op
pain.
The time to make patients aware of
these facts is not at bedside, shortly
after they've emerged from anesthesia, say surgical and pain management
experts. Effective post-op pain management demands patient education during
the pre-surgical office visit. This discussion should cover what they might expe-
rience following surgery, and what can be done about it. Patients should know
that if during recovery they feel the prescribed pain management regimen isn't
sufficiently effective, they should speak up. When post-op patients understand
what's expected, and are empowered to communicate their conditions, that's a
real source of comfort to them and a solid foundation for their recovery.
Many general surgeons also note the importance of talking with patients
about their expectations to tailor post-op care to each individual case. The loss
of control that surgical patients feel can create fear, anxiety and stress, which
amplifies pain. But effective pain management doesn't have to be a complicated
arrangement, especially if you act early enough to prevent pain from dominating
recovery in the first place.
2. Treat preemptively
Every surgery hurts, but every patient feels different levels of pain, and
responds differently to it. Still, some physicians make a point of administering
the same pain management regimen to each patient, under the logic that pain
response cannot be predicted. Why should a patient's orders be limited to oral
meds instead of IV analgesics, for example, just because their history and physi-
cal or other observations suggest they'll tolerate a procedure better than anoth-
er patient?
H E R N I A R E P A I R
EXP-AP-0020-201301
SUTURE SOLUTION Suturing mesh is said to result in
less pain than stapling or tacking, but fastening devices
are convenient for laparoscopic access.
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