African journal of medicine and medical sciences
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The incidence of post-operative pain was determined among 200 adult Nigerian patients who presented for a variety of surgical procedures. The overall incidence of moderate to severe post-operative pain was 68% while the remaining 32% complained of only mild pain. ⋯ The use of opiates pre-operatively for premedication and anaesthetic techniques using intra-operative opiates or ketamine delay the onset and reduce the severity of post-operative pain. No sex difference was observed but elderly patients (especially above 50 years of age) tended to have lower pain ratings.