Post-Laparotomy Pain: How to Achieve a Satisfactory Control

Francesca Gatta and Syed Muzaffar Ahmad

Department of Acute Medicine, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
Department of General Surgery, Scunthorpe General Hospital, UK

^*Correspondance to: Francesca Gatta 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.2673

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how a better post-laparotomy pain control can be achieved by individually assessing patients’ pain three times a day. Methods: A prospective randomized study conducted in the General Surgery Department of a district hospital, from April to July 2019. Results: A total of 20 post-laparotomy patients were analyzed. Patients were divided into two cohorts: Group A, pain score assessed three times a day and analgesia provided accordingly, Group B, usual practice patients (analgesia administered when asked by the patient) and pain score assessed as in Group A, over a four day period. Mean age was similar in both groups (70.5 ± 16.2 vs. 72.6 ± 11.5, p=0.74). Pain score assessed on Day 1 at 9 AM was 2.6 ± 1.07 vs. 2.4 ± 1.89, p=0.78, pain score assessed on Day 4 at 5 PM was 0 vs. 1.5 ± 1.65, p=0.01. Conclusion: Pain score in Group A showed a significant downward trend over the four day period, compared with Group B.

Keywords

Post-operative pain; Acute pain management; Pain relief

Cite the article

Gatta F, Ahmad SM. Post-Laparotomy Pain: How to Achieve a Satisfactory Control. Clin Surg. 2019; 4: 2673..