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Thoracic surgery is rated as one of the most painful incisions
with MIS thoracic incisions ranked second most painful, says
Linda Martin, MD, the lead surgeon for the thoracic program at
the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville. Here
is a recipe for managing post-op pain with little to no narcotics.
(osmag.net/pmXRW5)
Gabapentin 300 mg orally 3 times a day for 30 days. Geriatric
patients or patients experiencing lightheadedness receive100 mg
3 times a day.
Acetaminophen 1,000 mg IV every 6 hours for 48 hours, then
1,000 mg orally every 6 hours.
Ketorolac 15 mg IV every 6 hours for 48 hours (unless con-
traindicated), then celecoxib 200 mg orally twice a day.
Famotidine 40 mg orally twice a day while the patient is receiv-
ing Ketorolac or Celebrex.
Tramadol 50 mg orally every 6 hours as needed if the patient
reports a pain score higher than 4
on a 10-point scale.
Hydromorphone 0.5 mg IV
every 15 minutes up to 2 times
as needed if the pain is not
relieved with tramadol. If pain
persists, a patient-controlled
anesthesia pump with hydromor-
phone is used.
Ondansetron 4 mg IV every 6 hours
as needed for nausea.
Managing One of the Most Painful Incisions
POST-OP PAIN PRESCRIPTION
