Practice Advisory for Postoperative Pain Management of Thoracic Surgical Patients: Executive Summary: A Report by Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists.

Abstract

Patients after thoracic surgery experience significant pain that can disrupt normal respiratory mechanics, increase the risk of respiratory complications, and impair recovery. Poorly controlled postoperative pain can develop into persistent postoperative pain. In addition, using opioids for pain control in the thoracic surgical population makes them more susceptible to opioid-related side effects due to their pre-existing comorbidities. The lack of consensus on how to effectively attain pain control in this surgical population has resulted in variability in the analgesic regimens utilized by providers across institutions and practices. The overall goal of this practice advisory is to identify opportunities for improvement in the postoperative pain management of thoracic surgical patients and provide guidance to perioperative providers through the provision of evidence-based recommendations.