Pain management and quality in healthcare

Management of pain in the acute peri-operative setting still leaves a significant number of patients suffering from moderate to severe pain. In order to improve this, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms of pain perception, and be able to apply this to clinical settings. Effective assessment of pain is needed, with re-assessment to detect treatment efficacy. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews are available for many of the analgesic therapies used, and this can be used as a basis for formulating an effective management plan. By optimizing pain management in the peri-operative period, and utilizing this, it should be possible to minimize resultant disability and hospital stay.