Pain Management - Acute Pain:
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
Acute pain
Definition:
- It occurs suddenly and generally has a specific cause.
- It is described as sharp in quality.
- It lasts < 6 Months.
Why Do We Need to Treat Pain?
System
Consequence of Uncontrolled pain
Respiratory
Poor inspiration, diaphragmatic splinting and cough lead to atelectasis and pulmonary infection.
Cardiac
Sympathetic stimulation leads to tachycardia and hypertension which increases myocardial oxygen demand and the potential for ischemia (especially in patients with known cardiac risk factors).
Neuropsychiatric
Unrelieved pain/persistent nociceptive stimulation can lead to sleep deprivation, anxiety and fatigue. Severe prolonged acute pain can lead to chronic pain through pain sensitization (highest risk from thoracic, cardiac, breast or hernia surgeries).
Gastrointestinal
Gastroparesis and Ileus
Endocrine/Metabolic
Catabolic hormone release leads to sodium and water retention and hyperglycemia.
MSK
Reduced mobility leading to muscle wasting, breakdown and deconditioning.
Coagulation
Restricted mobility and increased acute phase proteins leads to increased risk of venous thromboembolism
Immunologic
Slower wound healing and decreased immunity causing increased infection risk
Next page: Acute pain - Assessment