Controlling Acute Pain to Improve the Quality of Postoperative Pain Management: an Update from the European Society of Regional Anesthesia Meeting Held in Maastricht (September 2016)

Abstract

Improvement in postoperative pain management remains a global concern with a significant unmet need for patients. This was the focus of a ‘Change Pain’ session at the 35th European Society of Regional Anesthesia meeting (Maastricht, September 2016). Awareness of the size and nature of the problem is important to improve postoperative pain management strategies. Optimal treatment of acute pain should aim to avoid long-term sequelae such as the development of chronic pain disorders (e.g., phantom limb pain). Cases highlighting unsuccessful and successful strategies to manage individuals undergoing surgery were presented. The benefits of personalized care, encouraging patients to be more involved in decisions regarding their treatment and their preferred clinical outcomes were discussed and considered to be a step forward in acute pain management.

Keywords:

• acute pain
• case studies
• personalized medicine
• postoperative pain management
• quality indicators

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This article was based on a meeting held as part of the 35th European Society of Regional Anesthesia in Maastricht, The Netherlands, 7–10 September 2016, and was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Grünenthal GmbH, Aachen, Germany. E Pogatzki-Zahn has disclosed that she is a consultant to Grünenthal. F Huygen has disclosed that he has received grants from Spinal Modulation, and is a consultant to Grünenthal and Abbott. E Neugebauer has disclosed that he is a consultant to Grünenthal. W Fawcett has disclosed that he is a consultant to Grünenthal. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

The authors thank S Clissold and P Weber, Content Ed Net, Germany for editorial support, which was sponsored by Grünenthal GmbH, Aachen, Germany.

Notes

Using these steps the quality of pain management increases. The information can be introduced into guidelines for treatment which are essential for new personnel