Factors Influencing Analgesic Consumption in the Early Postoperative Period: A Prospective Observational Study in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit

What this Trial Is About

Postoperative pain is a significant challenge that affects recovery, patient outcomes, and quality of care. Inadequate pain control soon after surgery can delay movement, increase complications, extend hospital stays, and may lead to chronic pain. This prospective observational study aims to identify patient, surgical, and anesthesia factors that influence pain medication use during the early postoperative period in adult patients admitted to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after elective surgery. The study includes a single group of adult patients undergoing elective surgery and monitored in the PACU. No experimental treatments are given; all care follows routine clinical practice. Researchers will collect data on pain medication use, pain intensity, and related factors from clinical records and monitoring forms during the PACU stay, which typically lasts up to four hours after surgery. Participants will be observed during their PACU stay where pain levels at admission and discharge will be recorded using a standardized scale. Researchers will track total pain medication use, need for extra pain relief, episodes of nausea or vomiting, and length of PACU stay. The study focuses on understanding which factors affect pain medication needs to help improve individualized pain management and overall perioperative care. The total observation period in the PACU is approximately 0 to 4 hours postoperatively.

Analgesic Consumption in the Early Postoperative Period: A Prospective Observational PACU Study