Smokers experience higher levels of pain and suffer from severe pain more frequently following ambulatory surgery, according to a study presented at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
The study looked at data from 2,157 adults who underwent elective ambulatory surgery under general anesthesia from 12 U.S. hospitals. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify and quantify the impact of relevant risk factors for severe postoperative pain.
According to the study, smoking was an important risk factor for severe postoperative pain during both a patient's PACU stay and after hospital discharge. The study recommends physicians acknowledge smoking status during perioperative evaluation. This evaluation can help anesthesiologists make informed decisions about how to best apply prophylaxis and analgesic therapies for postoperative care.
Read the ASA abstract on smoking and severe pain.
Read more on anesthesia:
-Interventional Pain Management: A Physician Specialty
-March FDA Committee Meeting to Discuss Pediatric Anesthesia
-'Closed-Loop' System Improves Adjustment of Anesthesia Levels
The study looked at data from 2,157 adults who underwent elective ambulatory surgery under general anesthesia from 12 U.S. hospitals. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify and quantify the impact of relevant risk factors for severe postoperative pain.
According to the study, smoking was an important risk factor for severe postoperative pain during both a patient's PACU stay and after hospital discharge. The study recommends physicians acknowledge smoking status during perioperative evaluation. This evaluation can help anesthesiologists make informed decisions about how to best apply prophylaxis and analgesic therapies for postoperative care.
Read the ASA abstract on smoking and severe pain.
Read more on anesthesia:
-Interventional Pain Management: A Physician Specialty
-March FDA Committee Meeting to Discuss Pediatric Anesthesia
-'Closed-Loop' System Improves Adjustment of Anesthesia Levels