HIGHLIGHTS
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Intensity assessed mainly through the verbal numeric scale (VNS)
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Prevalence in the 3rd decade of life
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Pain is a predominant symptom in the postoperative period and expected in any surgical service, being considered as a worldwide problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe and analyze its epidemiological aspects, intensity, and predictors, for better management and predictability.
METHODS:
This is a quantitative, retrospective and cross-sectional observational study, carried out in a tertiary hospital at Londrina-PR, in which medical records of post-surgical patients who responded to pain scales during their stay in the post-anesthetic recovery room were analyzed.
RESULTS:
This study found that females are more likely to have postoperative pain and that younger patients are more susceptible, although not significantly. Mild pain predominated at rates greater than 60%, in which spinal blocks and gynecological/obstetric procedures were the most prevalent, in contrast to severe pain, which obtained higher percentages when general anesthesia and orthopedic surgeries were performed. In addition, an equation for predicting severe pain in the immediate postoperative period was obtained, based on the chosen anesthesia and the patient’s age.
CONCLUSION:
Less intense postoperative pain was more prevalent than other intensities, with anesthesia and the type of surgery being possible predictive factors, even if the harbinger of its severity was based on age and the anesthetic method.
Keywords:
Acute pain; Epidemiology; Hospital anesthesia service; Medical records; Pain measurement
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