Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
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J. Perianesth. Nurs. · Jun 2004
ReviewTreating children for acute agitation in the PACU: differentiating pain and emergence delirium.
Differentiating postoperative pain from emergence delirium in children is challenging for even the most experienced PACU nurse. This article presents a review of the literature and clinical practice experiences that will help guide the PACU nurse in recognizing and differentiating these two conditions that are common in children recovering from anesthesia. ⋯ Treatment with opioids is recommended as the primary strategy for safely recovering the child experiencing acute postanesthesia agitation, whether from pain or emergence delirium. Tools commonly used to assess both pain and postanesthesia agitation in children are reviewed, and an algorithm to facilitate the decision-making process is provided.
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Successful ambulatory surgery is dependent on analgesia that is effective, has minimal adverse effects, and can be safely managed by the patient at home after discharge. A number of studies have identified that the provision of effective postoperative analgesia is inadequate for a significant proportion of patients. The following discussion details the current available analgesic options for ambulatory surgery patients and the rationale for their use. ⋯ Consideration should be given to the use of long-acting oral COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and long-acting oral opioids to treat postoperative pain. A standardized multimodal postdischarge analgesic regimen tailored to the patient's expected postoperative pain levels should be prescribed. Patient follow-up by telephone questionnaire will confirm those surgical procedures that result in mild or moderate-to-severe postoperative pain and the effectiveness of treatment plans.
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J. Perianesth. Nurs. · Jun 2004
ReviewAssessment and treatment of postoperative pain in older adults.
Hospitals are experiencing an increase in surgical procedures aimed at improving function and quality of life for elders. However, recent reports of pain management practices of elder patients show that pain is underassessed and undertreated. ⋯ The purpose of this article is to review strategies for assessing and treating postoperative pain in older adults. Attention is given to the challenges associated with mental and physical impairments experienced by elders and a review of assessment and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies are included.
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J. Perianesth. Nurs. · Jun 2004
Clinical evaluation of the ASPAN Pain and Comfort Clinical Guideline.
The ASPAN Pain and Comfort Clinical Guideline was created because of the urgent need for a standardized evidence-based approach to the management of patients' pain and comfort in all perianesthesia settings. The purpose of the research presented here was to test the content of the ASPAN Pain and Comfort Clinical Guideline, which included the domains of assessment, intervention, and outcomes. Each domain was rated on clarity, usability, and feasibility using a Likert scale, which ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). ⋯ There were no differences in the clarity, usability, or feasibility of the guideline between perianesthesia settings. The results of this study support that the ASPAN Pain and Comfort Clinical Guideline has practical utility for perianesthesia nurses in all settings. Use of this guideline in perianesthesia settings will standardize pain and comfort management and has the potential to positively impact pain and comfort in perianesthesia patients.
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J. Perianesth. Nurs. · Jun 2004
A survey of current perianesthesia nursing practice for pain and comfort management.
Widespread dissemination of information and high-profile press coverage about pain and comfort management has resulted in heightened awareness among health care professionals and the public of the need for improvements in the way pain and comfort are managed. Despite significant advances in treatment options for pain relief and comfort, studies show that both phenomena continue to be poorly managed and undertreated. Providing pain relief and comfort to patients are important fundamental components of good nursing care; however, no studies have been performed to evaluate these responsibilities in perianesthesia nursing practice. ⋯ Inappropriate and inadequate physicians' orders were cited as two of the most common obstacles to managing pain and comfort. Findings of this study can be used to increase awareness of the need to evaluate and improve pain and comfort management education and practices in the perianesthesia settings. ASPAN will also use the results as baseline data as it establishes a strategic plan to address the educational needs of its members.