Week 6 Perioperative Care and Pain

Pain

Consequences of untreated ________ include:

• Unnecessary suffering

• Physical and psychosocial dysfunction

• Impaired recovery from acute illness and surgery

• Immuno-suppression

• Sleep disturbances

Physiological pain

Physical sensations and processes that occur in response to tissue damage or injury.

Sensory–discriminative Pain

The ability to recognize and localize pain in response to a noxious stimulus.

Motivational–affective

The emotional and psychological factors that influence the perception and experience of pain.

Cognitive–evaluative pain

The experience of pain that involves cognitive and evaluative processes, such as thoughts, beliefs, and judgments about the pain. It includes the interpretation of pain sensations, the assignment of meaning to pain, and the emotional response to pain.

Sociocultural Pain

The experience of pain influenced by social and cultural factors, such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. It highlights how social context and cultural beliefs shape the perception, expression, and management of pain.

Nociceptive

Sensory receptors that detect and transmit pain signals from damaged tissues to the brain.

Somatic Pain

Pain originating from the skin, muscles, bones, or connective tissues. It is usually well-localized and can be described as sharp, dull, aching, or throbbing. Common causes include injuries, inflammation, or trauma to the somatic structures.

Visceral Pain

A type of pain that originates from the internal organs. It is often described as a deep, dull, or cramping sensation. It can be difficult to locate and may be accompanied by other symptoms like nausea or sweating.

Analgesic Ladder

A stepwise approach to pain management, starting with non-opioid analgesics (e.g., NSAIDs), then adding weak opioids (e.g., codeine), and finally strong opioids (e.g., morphine) if needed. It helps ensure appropriate pain control while minimizing side effects.

Ceiling Effect

A phenomenon where increasing the dosage of a drug does not result in a further increase in its therapeutic effect.

Adjuvant Analgesic Therapy

Additional medications used in combination with primary pain medications to enhance pain relief and manage specific types of pain. They target different pain pathways and can include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and local anesthetics. Adjuvant analgesic therapy helps to improve pain control and reduce the reliance on opioids.

Neuroablative interventions

Medical procedures that destroy or disable specific areas of the nervous system to alleviate symptoms or treat certain conditions. Examples include radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, and neurosurgical lesioning. Used for pain that is not responding to anything else.

Malignant Hyperthermia

Life-threatening condition triggered by certain medications used during anesthesia. Symptoms include high fever, muscle rigidity, rapid heart rate, and increased acid levels in the blood. Can lead to organ failure and death if not treated promptly. Managed with specific medications and cooling techniques. Genetic predisposition may be present.

Dehiscence

The separation or splitting open of a wound or incision, usually due to inadequate healing or excessive strain on the area. Can lead to complications like infection or delayed healing.

Evisceration

The process of removing the internal organs from a body, often during surgery or as a result of severe trauma.

FOBT

A medical test used to detect blood in the stool, which can indicate various conditions such as colorectal cancer or gastrointestinal bleeding.

bHCG Test

A blood test that measures the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in the body. It is used to detect pregnancy and monitor its progress.