Postoperative Analgesia in the Chronic Pain Patient

Abstract

An increasing number of chronic pain patients presenting for surgery are chronic opioid users. Pain management in the postoperative period can be challenging in this population due to the development of tolerance, physical dependence, and hyperalgesia in long-term opioid users. It is common for postoperative pain to be undertreated in these patients, leading to an overall increase in length of hospital stays, health care costs, and decreased patient satisfaction. Identifying opioid-tolerant patients and developing a perioperative pain management plan are important components of a patient's overall recovery after any surgical procedure.