Abstract
BackgroundAfter surgery, effective and well-directed acute pain therapy is a necessary and integral part of the overall treatment plan. Generally, the assessment of pain intensity depends on a patient’s self-evaluation using scoring systems such as numeric rating scales (NRS, 0 to 10). Recently, a “Pain Monitor” was commercially provided which is based on measurements of fluctuations of skin conductance (NFSC). In this randomized, controlled, single-blind trial, possible benefits of this certain device were studied.MethodsPostoperative patients (n = 44) were randomly assigned to a test or a control group during their stay in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). All patients were treated and monitored according to internal hospital standards. Whereas all patients systematically evaluated their pain each 15 min, test group patients were additionally addressed when NFSC exceeded a predefined level. In cases of NRS≥5 during a routine elevation or in between, pain relief was achieved by standard procedures irrespective of group allocation.ResultsDuring their stay in PACU, both test and control groups experienced a significant decrease in NRS as a consequence of pain therapy. No significant differences in mean NRS or in NFSC values were found between the test and control groups. No correlation was observed between NRS and NFSC.ConclusionPostoperative patients experience diverse stressors, such as anxiety, disorientation, shivering, sickness and pain. Although the application of continuous pain monitoring would be meaningful in this clinical setting, the tested device failed to distinguish pain from other stressors in postoperative adult patients.Trial RegistrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00000755.
Highlights
Despite standard interventions, postoperative pain remains a major inconvenience for approximately 50% of patients [1]
After arrival at the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), 44 of them were evenly allocated to the control group (CO) and TC group
During the stay in PACU, no significant differences were observed between TC and CO groups in either primary or secondary endpoints
Summary
Postoperative pain remains a major inconvenience for approximately 50% of patients [1]. An accurate and timely assessment of pain levels is crucial to reduce the affected time period [5,6]. Because it is a subjective phenomenon, patients perform self-evaluation of pain intensity. The assessment of pain intensity depends on a patient’s self-evaluation using scoring systems such as numeric rating scales (NRS, 0 to 10). A ‘‘Pain Monitor’’ was commercially provided which is based on measurements of fluctuations of skin conductance (NFSC). In this randomized, controlled, single-blind trial, possible benefits of this certain device were studied
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