Higher post-operative day 1 Pain Linked to Increased Post-Surgery Complications: Study
Researchers have found in a new study that higher pain scores on post-operative day 1 were independently associated with greater 30-day infectious and non-infectious complications. Infectious complications occurred later (average 6.5 days) than non-infectious ones (average 4.1 days). The study was published in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine journal by Esmee V. H. and fellow researchers.
Postoperative pain is a familiar problem after extensive abdominal operations like cytoreductive surgery, HIPEC, esophageal surgery, liver resections, and pancreatic surgery. Although pain is anticipated, increasing evidence suggests that greater levels of pain in the early postoperative period can have physiological effects beyond patient discomfort, such as stress-induced immunosuppression. The present study sought to investigate how intensity of pain on postoperative day 1 (POD1) is associated with an increased risk of complications within 30 days after surgery.
The study group used data from 1,000 patients who were randomly chosen to undergo major abdominal surgery from 2014 to 2020 at Radboud University Medical Center. Pain scores on POD1 were retrieved from electronic patient files. The primary outcomes were complications on POD30, grouped as infectious, non-infectious, total complications, and graded using the Clavien-Dindo grading system. Statistical analysis applied logistic regression to find the correlation between early pain and complication rates.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.