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Anesthesiology In-Training Exam Review pp 351–354Cite as

World Health Organization Analgesic Ladder

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Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) Analgesic Ladder was a framework created by the WHO to provide guidance to physicians on appropriate pain relief strategies for cancer patients. It involves a three-step progression from non-opioids to weak opioids to strong opioids until sufficient pain relief is obtained. Around this central framework, adjuvant medications and procedural options are also given and recommended when deemed necessary due to ineffective pain control.

Keywords

  • Cancer pain
  • Palliative care
  • WHO
  • Analgesic ladder
  • Chronic pain

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Fig. 67.1
Fig. 67.2

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Jonathan M. Hagedorn

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  1. Jonathan M. Hagedorn
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Correspondence to Jonathan M. Hagedorn .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Ratan K. Banik

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Hagedorn, J.M. (2022). World Health Organization Analgesic Ladder. In: Banik, R.K. (eds) Anesthesiology In-Training Exam Review. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87266-3_67

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87266-3_67

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87265-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87266-3

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