POST-OPERATIVE PAIN AND ANALGESIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Post-operative pain has humanitarian, physiological and economic implications. So far the severity of postoperative pain and the effectiveness of analgesic prescribing has not been investigated in the University of Gondar previously.
Methods: Baseline data for pain in the post-operative period was gathered from 51 patients in November and December 2009,
using a numerical scale or visual-analogue scale (VAS) according to patient ability. Analgesic prescription and administration
information was collected for all patients, allowing the relationship between pain severity and analgesic practice to be elucidated.
Results: Over half (54.9%) of the patients had moderate or severe pain at rest, whilst nearly three-quarters (72.6%) had these
levels of dynamic pain. No patients were prescribed paracetamol. Overall, 56.9% of the patients were prescribed a NSAID and
23.5% had received it in the preceding 8 hours. These rates did not vary significantly with pain severity. Only 3.9% of patients
had opioid analgesia prescribed.
Discussion: Current analgesic practice could be improved. Recommendations are made to introduce a drug prescription and
administration chart to the hospital, with training for the relevant staff. Future re-auditing of analgesic use may help to improve practice.