Pain Management Nursing
Volume 9, Issue 1, Supplement , Pages 22-32, March 2008

Pharmacotherapy for Acute Pain: Implications for Practice

  • Dina A. Krenzischek, MAS, RN, CPAN

      Affiliations

    • Same-Day Prep/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Department of Surgical Nursing, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Dina A. Krenzischek, MAS, RN, CPAN, Nurse Manager, Same-Day Prep/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Department of Surgical Nursing, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
    • ,
  • Colleen J. Dunwoody, MS, RN-BC

      Affiliations

    • UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    • ,
  • Rosemary C. Polomano, PhD, RN, FAAN

      Affiliations

    • University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • ,
  • James P. Rathmell, MD

      Affiliations

    • MGH Pain Center, Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Abstract 

Effective treatment of perioperative acute pain requires that information about the patient’s goals for pain relief, previous history with analgesics, and type of surgical procedure is used to guide decisions about analgesic regimens. Analgesics are selected based on the location of surgery, degree of anticipated pain, and patient characteristics (such as comorbidities), and routes of administration and dosing schedules are determined to maximize the effectiveness and safety of analgesia while minimizing the potential for adverse events. Pain management therapy is then extended into the postsurgical phase of recovery. To accomplish this, nurses must have a thorough understanding of the pharmacology of analgesics. This article provides useful information for commonly used analgesics, primarily nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and local anesthetics for control of acute postoperative pain.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 12.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST: These authors report the following conflicts of interest with the sponsor of this supplement article or products discussed in this article. Dina Krenzischek, MAS, RN, CPAN, is on the speaker’s bureau for Merck & Co., Inc., and Ortho-McNeil, Inc. Colleen Dunwoody, MS, RN-C, is on the speaker’s bureau and a consultant for Ortho-McNeil, Inc. and Hospira Inc. Rosemary Polomano, PhD, RN, FAAN, is on the speaker’s bureau or a consultant for Janssen, L.P., Merck & Co., Inc., and Ortho-McNeil, Inc. James Rathmell, MD, received a grant/research support from PriCara, a Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc.

PII: S1524-9042(07)00182-8

doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2007.11.003

Pain Management Nursing
Volume 9, Issue 1, Supplement , Pages 22-32, March 2008

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution