Definition
Acute pain is the normal alarm function of experiencing pain when tissue is damaged by trauma, acute disease, or by the surgeon’s knife. Postoperative pain is common after surgery, varying from mild to very severe; resting pain depending on degree of tissue injury; and dynamic pain is more intense with movements when the operation was close to joints, thorax, or upper abdomen. Indication for surgery (cancer or benign disease), outcome of surgery, and patient’s mental state and mood, as well as genetic factors, influence severity of the postoperative pain experience. Effective relief of acute pain improves quality of life and reduces risk of postoperative cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, and infectious complications, possibly also the risk of chronic pain after surgery. Acute pain is most intense during the first few days after injury but can last until tissue injury is completely healed. If bothersome pain is still present 6 weeks after surgery, the pain may continue into...
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Breivik, H., Hals, E.K.B., Stubhaug, A. (2013). Postoperative Pain, Acute Pain Management Principles. In: Gebhart, G.F., Schmidt, R.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_3423
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_3423
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