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Journal of Anesthesia
Published in: Journal of Anesthesia 1/2012

01-02-2012 | Original Article

Prediction of postoperative pain using path analysis in older patients

Authors: Sakura Kinjo, Laura P. Sands, Eunjung Lim, Sudeshna Paul, Jacqueline M. Leung

Published in: Journal of Anesthesia | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

Effective postoperative pain management is important for older surgical patients because pain affects perioperative outcomes. A prospective cohort study was conducted to describe the direct and indirect effects of patient risk factors and pain treatment in explaining levels of postoperative pain in older surgical patients.

Methods

We studied patients who were 65 years of age or older and were scheduled for major noncardiac surgery with a postoperative hospital stay of at least 2 days. The numeric rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain) was used to measure pain levels before surgery and once daily for 2 days after surgery. Path analysis was performed to examine the association between predictive variables and postoperative pain levels.

Results

Three hundred fifty patients were studied. We found that preoperative pain level, use of preoperative opioids, female gender, higher ASA physical status, and postoperative pain control methods were the strongest predictors of postoperative pain as measured on the first day after surgery. Younger age, greater preoperative symptoms of depression, and lower cognitive function also contributed to higher postoperative pain levels. Pain levels on the second day after surgery were strongly predicted by preoperative pain level, use of preoperative opioids, surgical risk, and pain and opioid dose on postoperative day 1. However, younger age, female gender, higher ASA physical status, greater preoperative symptoms of depression, lower cognitive function, and postoperative pain control methods indirectly contributed to pain levels on the second day after surgery.

Conclusion

Although preoperative pain and use of preoperative opioids have the strongest effects on postoperative pain, clinicians should be aware that other factors such as age, gender, surgical risk, preoperative cognitive impairment, and depression also contribute to reported postoperative pain. Based on significant statistical correlations, these study results can contribute to more effective postoperative care for those patients having the risk factors studied here. Preoperative treatment/intervention based in part on factors such as preoperative pain, use of preoperative opioids, and depression may improve postoperative pain management.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Prediction of postoperative pain using path analysis in older patients
Authors
Sakura Kinjo
Laura P. Sands
Eunjung Lim
Sudeshna Paul
Jacqueline M. Leung
Publication date
01-02-2012
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Journal of Anesthesia / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 0913-8668
Electronic ISSN: 1438-8359
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-011-1249-6

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