Pain perception to minor physical stimuli prior to surgery could be related to subsequent pain ratings after surgery, according to a literature review published in the Feb. 2011 issue of Anesthesiology.
The review looked at 15 studies that applied three types of pain stimuli: thermal, pressure and electrical pain. The intensity of suprathreshold heat pain (i.e. pain beyond patient threshold) was most consistently shown to correlate with postoperative pain.
The most common limitation of the studies was the method of statistical analysis and lack of multivariate analysis, according to the review.
Read the review in Anesthesiology.
Read more on anesthesia:
-10 Recent Findings on Anesthesia Quality Issues
-Case Study: 5 Ways to Maximize Anesthesia Administration in Your Surgery Center
The review looked at 15 studies that applied three types of pain stimuli: thermal, pressure and electrical pain. The intensity of suprathreshold heat pain (i.e. pain beyond patient threshold) was most consistently shown to correlate with postoperative pain.
The most common limitation of the studies was the method of statistical analysis and lack of multivariate analysis, according to the review.
Read the review in Anesthesiology.
Read more on anesthesia:
-10 Recent Findings on Anesthesia Quality Issues
-Case Study: 5 Ways to Maximize Anesthesia Administration in Your Surgery Center