Scandinavian journal of caring sciences
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Postoperative pain. Does subcutaneous lidocaine spray relieve it? Can pain be predicted?
Postoperative pain is often a big problem after gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of the present investigation was two-fold; To see whether supplying of lidocaine spray in the surgical wound influences postoperative pain and to evaluate the role of patients and caring factors on the perception of postoperative pain. Sixty consecutive patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were randomized into a control or a treatment group. ⋯ Preoperative anxiety correlated to postoperative pain, whereas malignant diagnoses did not. Most of the studied patients had considerable postoperative pain. Routines for postoperative pain relief should be improved.