Postoperative Analgesic Demand Research Articles

Ischiorectal Block with Bupivacaine for Post Hemorrhoidectomy Pain

BackgroundHemorrhoid is one of the most common surgical diseases occurring in the anorectal region. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ischiorectal fossa block on alleviating post hemorrhoidectomy pain.MethodsIn this study, 90 patients suffering from hemorrhoids were evaluated. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. The first group had no block, the second group an ischiorectal block with placebo (normal saline), and the third group a preemptive ischiorectal block with bupivacaine. Postoperative variables such as pain intensity, pethidine consumption, nausea, and vomiting were compared between the groups.ResultsThe postoperative pain score in group 1 was 8.5 ± 1.3 and 8.1 ± 0.9 (P = NS) in group 2. The post operative analgesic demand was 3.1 ± 1.5 and 3.3 ± 1.8 hours in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = NS). The post operative pain score and analgesic demand were 4.2 ± 2.1 and 9.3 ± 2.7 hours, respectively, in group 3 (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsPreemptive ischiorectal block reduces the posthemorrhoidectomy pain and opioid demand.

Combined spinal epidural and epidural volume extension: Interaction of patient position and hyperbaric bupivacaine

Background:Previous trials have documented failure of block augmentation with epidural volume extension, when applied after the intrathecal injection of hyperbaric bupivacaine was made in sitting position. However, there is no study comparing the effect of change in patient position during block performance, on the results of epidural volume extension.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted in two parts in American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II parturients scheduled for elective cesarean section under regional anesthesia. In the first part, 28 patients were randomized to one of the two groups, depending on whether epidural volume extension was applied following the block in sitting (group SE) or lateral position (group LE) (n=14 each). In the second part of the study another 28 patients were recruited and randomized to receive the block in sitting (group S) or lateral (group L) position (n=14 each), without epidural volume extension. All patients received combined spinal epidural block using needle-through-needle technique with intrathecal injection of 9 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) and 10 μg fentanyl. Epidural volume extension was performed using 5 ml normal saline in groups SE and LE.Results:In the first part of the study, the maximum sensory block level was higher in group LE vs. SE (P<0.05). In the second part of the study, no significant difference was seen in the maximum sensory level between group S and group L (P>0.05).Conclusions:If epidural volume extension is being applied with intention of rapid extension of sensory block when hyperbaric bupivacaine has been injected intrathecally, the combined spinal epidural block should be performed in lateral position rather than in the sitting position.

Paracetamol Reduces Postoperative Pain and Rescue Analgesic Demand After Robot‐Assisted Endoscopic Thyroidectomy by the Transaxillary Approach

Postoperative pain following endoscopic thyroidectomy, although less severe than after open methods, is still a source of marked discomfort and surgical stress. This clinical trial was conducted to determine if repeated intravenous paracetamol could decrease postoperative pain and rescue analgesic requirements after robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy via the transaxillary approach. This prospective, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study enrolled 124 women 21-60 years of age who were scheduled for elective gasless robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy via the transaxillary approach. The patients were given placebo or 1 g of paracetamol as a 100 ml solution infused over 15 min 1 h before the induction of anesthesia, and then at 6-h intervals for the following 24 h. Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower at 1, 3, 6, and 24 h after surgery in the paracetamol group than in the placebo group. Significantly fewer patients in the paracetamol group received rescue analgesics compared to the placebo group (9.5% vs. 65.6%, respectively). First analgesic time was similar in the two groups. Postoperative nausea (44.3% vs. 22.2%) and vomiting (21.3% vs. 6.3%) were more frequent in the placebo group than in the paracetamol group. Other postoperative side effects, including sedation, confusion, and pruritus, were similar in the two groups. We concluded that repeated administration of 1 g of intravenous paracetamol over 24 h is easy, effective, safe, and well tolerated for pain management in patients with moderate to severe postoperative pain after gasless robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy performed via the transaxillary approach.

Xenon Anesthesia Improves Respiratory Gas Exchanges in Morbidly Obese Patients

Background. Xenon-in-oxygen is a high density gas mixture and may improve PaO2/FiO2 ratio in morbidly obese patients uniforming distribution of ventilation during anesthesia. Methods. We compared xenon versus sevoflurane anesthesia in twenty adult morbidly obese patients (BMI > 35) candidate for roux-en-Y laparoscopic gastric bypass and assessed PaO2/FiO2 ratio at baseline, at 15 min from induction of anaesthesia and every 60 min during surgery. Differences in intraoperative and postoperative data including heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure, oxygen saturation, plateau pressure, eyes opening and extubation time, Aldrete score on arrival to the PACU were compared by the Mann-Whitney test and were considered as secondary aims. Moreover the occurrence of side effects and postoperative analgesic demand were assessed. Results. In xenon group PaO2-FiO2 ratio was significantly higher after 60 min and 120 min from induction of anesthesia; heart rate and overall remifentanil consumption were lower; the eyes opening time and the extubation time were shorter; morphine consumption at 72 hours was lower; postoperative nausea was more common. Conclusions. Xenon anesthesia improved PaO2/FiO2 ratio and maintained its distinctive rapid recovery times and cardiovascular stability. A reduction of opioid consumption during and after surgery and an increased incidence of PONV were also observed in xenon group.

Propofol/Remifentanil Vs Desflurane/Fentanyl in Open Hemicolectomy Surgery

In a prospective, randomized, parallel-group study the aim was to compare TIVA (total intravenous anesthesia) with propofol / remifentanil and anesthesia with desflurane / fentanyl in open hemicolectomy surgery. 10 patients were randomly assigned each group. The primary endpoint hemodynamic stability was evaluated as number of dose-adjustments due to responses to surgery (hypertension, tachycardia, somatic or autonomic responses). Catecholamine levels, recovery times after anesthesia, postoperative variables and costs were also evaluated. There were no significant differences between the two groups in number of dose-adjustment due to responses to surgery (P = 0.88). One min after skin incision arterial noradrenaline levels were 59 ± 14 pg/ml in the TIVA-group and 262 ± 87 pg / ml in the desflurane-group (P < 0.01). Corresponding adrenaline levels were 16 ± 3 and 38 ± 12 pg/ml (P < 0.05), respectively. Recovery times after anesthesia were not significantly different between the two groups. In the TIVA-group we found significant increased use of opioids (P = 0.034), a trend towards increased use of epidural analgesia (P = 0.06) and about 30% higher costs (P = 0.03). We conclude that hemodynamic stability is not different between the two types of anesthesia in patients undergoing open hemicolectomy. TIVA reduces catecholamine levels and increases postoperative analgesic demands and costs.

Laparoscopic-Assisted or Laparoscopic-Facilitated Sigmoidectomy for Diverticular Disease? A Prospective Randomized Trial on Postoperative Pain and Analgesic Consumption

Laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy is an attractive but sometimes challenging operative technique for the treatment of diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon. The aim of this study was to compare, with respect to early postoperative analgesic demand and postoperative pain, laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy with a laparoscopic-facilitated technique. In the laparascopic-facilitated technique, the sigmoid colon is removed conventionally via a cosmetically inconspicuous incision after prior laparoscopic mobilization. Patients subjected to elective sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis were randomized to either laparoscopic-assisted or laparoscopic-facilitated sigmoidectomy. All patients had piritramide-based, patient-controlled analgesia. The cumulative postoperative consumption over 96 hours was defined as the primary end point. Postoperative pain, fatigue, pulmonary function, and resumption of bowel function were secondary endpoints. : Forty-five patients were randomized according to the protocol to laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy (n = 22) or laparoscopic-facilitated sigmoidectomy (n = 23). The analgesic consumption between the two groups was equivalent (61.3 (9-171) mg piritramide/96 hours vs. 64.3 (18-150) mg piritramide/96 hours; P = 0.827). Patients with laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy had lower pain levels on Day one and Day two. Cumulative pain levels over 96 hours and over the whole 7-day observation period, however, were not significantly different, although postoperative fatigue and pulmonary function were significantly different. Duration of surgery was slightly shorter for laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy (127 (47-200) vs. 135 (60-239) minutes; P = 0.28), but recovery of bowel activity was faster after laparoscopic-facilitated surgery. There was no significant difference in morbidity. Overall, the postoperative outcome was roughly equivalent after both techniques of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy. Therefore, laparoscopic-facilitated sigmoidectomy could be considered as an alternative to laparoscopic-assisted sigmoidectomy in technically difficult cases of diverticulitis subjected to laparoscopic surgery.

Effects of Preoperative Local Ropivacaine Infiltration on Postoperative Pain Scores in Infants and Small Children Undergoing Elective Cleft Palate Repair

Previous data have shown that preoperative analgesia may reduce postoperative analgesic demands. The aim of the current study was to determine if preincisional ropivacaine infiltration may reduce postoperative oral pain in infants and small children undergoing elective cleft palate patients.Twenty nonsyndromic cleft palate patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Injection with ropivacaine hydrochloride, at dose of 0.2 mg/kg, was performed by submucous infiltration of the proposed incisional site groups of patients. In control group, no medication was given before cleft palate repair under general anesthesia. Postoperative pain scores were measured according to Children and Infants Postoperative Pain Scale. Heart rate recordings and noninvasive blood pressure measurements were also done in all the patients.Measurements of Children and Infants Postoperative Pain Scale scores at all the observational postoperative periods showed significantly favorable values in ropivacaine group than in control group (P < 0.05). Six patients in the control group required rescue analgesia, whereas 2 patients required analgesic therapy in the treatment group.Preemptive analgesia using ropivacaine may enhance early postoperative comfort by reducing early postoperative pain in primary cleft repair.

Remifentanil-propofol in vertebral disk operations: Hemodynamics and recovery versus desflurane-N2O inhalation anesthesia

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and remifentanil differs from inhalational anesthesia with desflurane and nitrous oxide in terms of hemodynamics, recovery profile, and postoperative analgesic demand in patients undergoing elective microsurgical vertebral disk resection. A total of 60 patients were randomly assigned to receive TIVA with propofol and remifentanil or inhalational anesthesia with desflurane and nitrous oxide. The TIVA group (n=30) then received 50%/50% N(2)O/O(2). A constant infusion of remifentanil was provided at 0.125 microg/kg/min accompanied by propofol at 10 mg/kg/h in the first 10 min, 6 mg/kg/h in the second 10 min, then 4 mg/kg/h. The desflurane group (n=30) received 50%/50% N(2)O/O(2), with 5% desflurane after intubation and 6% before incision; desflurane was administered in a minimum alveolar concentration 1 fashion during the operation. Hemodynamic, O(2) saturation, and end-tidal CO(2) data were recorded before induction, after intubation, after prone positioning, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min into the operation, and at 15-min intervals thereafter until the end of the operation. Details on perioperative bradycardia, hypotension or hypertension, spontaneous breathing, extubation, eye opening, recovery time of ability to give name and date of birth, postoperative nausea and vomiting, shivering, agitation, and hypoxia were recorded. Patients anesthetized with desflurane responded to skin incision with increasing blood pressure and tachycardia; however, no other hemodynamic differences were noted between the 2 groups. In the TIVA group, recovery times were shorter for spontaneous ventilation (2.33-3.53 min), extubation (3.13-3.88 min), eye opening (4.06-6.23 min), and being able to give name and date of birth (5.4-7.9 min) compared with times in the desflurane group (P<.05). In the TIVA group, more postoperative shivering (16.7% of patients) and greater analgesic demand were seen than in the desflurane group. Although nausea and vomiting were more common in the desflurane group, no difference in bronchospasm was reported. In the TIVA group, a shorter recovery period and a greater demand for postoperative analgesia were seen. Because of the lack of residual analgesic effects, postoperative analgesic treatment should be initiated immediately in patients undergoing TIVA.

Analysis of behavioural and physiological parameters for the assessment of postoperative analgesic demand in newborns, infants and young children: a comprehensive report on seven consecutive studies.

Many different systems for the assessment of pain in newborns and infants have been tested for validity, rarely for reliability but never for sensitivity or specificity. We aimed to determine whether the assessment of an analgesic demand in the lower age group during the postoperative period is possible by observational methods only. In an repetitive and sequential prospective process for identifying observationable behaviour and measurable physiological parameters as indicators of a postoperative analgesic demand, 584 newborns, infants and young children were studied (7 prospective studies, 4238 observations). Twenty-six items were selected as suggested by current literature and for reasons of economy and practicability. The factor analyses resulted in a two-factorial solution with the behavioural items loading on one factor and the physiological parameters on the other (principal component analyses). The physiological parameters blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart rate were found to be unreliable and had no discriminant power to detect an analgesic demand during the postoperative period (discriminant analyses, ROC-curves). In newborns and infants, nine observational items were identified as equally selective, reliable, sensitive and specific to the assessment of postoperative analgesic demand, whereas in young children only five items could be identified (discriminant analyses, ROC-curves). For economic reasons, these five items (crying, facial expression, posture of the trunk, posture of the legs, motor restlessness) were chosen as the basis of an additional pain scale ranging from 0=no pain to 10=maximal (Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale, CHIPPS). Its internal consistency yielded values for Cronbachs' alpha with 0.92 for toddlers and 0.96 for infants. The coefficient for interrater reliability was 0.93. The scale was validated constructively by the intravenous administration of metamizol, tramadol, nalbuphine, piritramide and ketamine (repeated measures analysis of variance). The Toddler-Preschooler Postoperative Pain Scale and CHIPPS equally identified painfree situations or analgesic demand in 87.4%. In cases with definite pain, the score of CHIPPS was never below 4 points. Seventy-one toddlers gave verbal comments on their pain intensity: in 29 painfree situations the CHIPPS score was 3.0 and in 29 painful situations it was 5.7. The values for sensitivity and specificity of CHIPPS were calculated to be 0.92-0.96 and 0.74-0.95, respectively (discriminant analyses). We conclude that it is possible to determine postoperative analgesic demand in the low age group of children by using an observational system such as CHIPPS alone.

Respiratory and circulatory parameters as indicators of the postoperative analgesic demand in newborns and infants

Due to immature cognitive functions, infants are unable to communicate their pain perception verbally. To assess postoperative analgesic demand, the anaesthetist has to rely on observational techniques. Generally, pain expression is considered to be a multidimensional phenomenon consisting of physiological, motor-reflex and behavioural patterns. The majority of observational approaches to pain assessment in infants use the behavioural dimension only, regardless of the fact that pain perception might contribute substantially to the stress response. The aim of this study is to evaluate, whether sensitivity and specificity of a behavioural pain scale (CHIPPS [1]) can be improved by adding physiological measures, especially those representing the stress response. 30 infants aged 0-12 months and scheduled for unilateral herniorrhaphy were studied prospectively. In addition to 9 behavioural items (crying, facial expression, wrinkling of the forehead, motoric restlessness; posture of fingers, arms, legs, toes and torso) the ratio of actual physiological measurements (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure) and their respective preoperative baseline values were recorded by a single observer in 5 minutes intervals during the first hour after recovery from anaesthesia. Maximal efforts were made to achieve valid measures. Factor analysis was performed to determine the dimensionality of the complete item pool. For additional validity testing, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were calculated using the independent opinion of an experienced clinician as an external criterion. Discriminant analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of a combined behavioural and physiological scale. The factor analysis resulted in two independent dimensions: behaviour and cardiocirculatory measurements. The strong intercorrelations of all behavioural items and the fact, that the affective pain experience is expressed by a specific mimic behaviour, suggest the behavioural dimension to be regarded as pain expression. Because of the strictly orthogonal structure of the factor system, the circulatory and the respiratory dimension lack any relationship to pain experience. In addition to these statistical reasons, considerations on practicability disprove blood pressure and respiratory rate as useful pain indicators: Whereas the observer never failed to obtain a behavioural score, only 60% of the blood pressure measures and 80% of the respiratory rates were valid. In contrast, heart rate counts were obtained in over 99% and thus have to be considered as the only practicable physiological measurement in the early postoperative period. Corresponding to the results of the factor analysis, ROC curves suggest that the ability of the heart rate alone to assess pain is not substantially better than a random process, whereas the behavioural scale performs well. In addition the heart rate failed to improve the accuracy of the behavioural scale as shown by the results of a discriminant analysis. Despite the multidimensional approach and the corresponding multivariate analyses, a unidimensional scale consisting of behavioural items was found to be a valid indicator of an postoperative analgesic demand. Due to the lack of diagnostic properties and difficulties to obtain sound values even under research conditions, physiological measurements like blood pressure, respiratory rate and heart rate are not suitable for the assessment of a postoperative analgesic demand in infants, neither for clinical nor for research purposes.

Reduced Postoperative Analgesic Demand After Inhaled Anesthesia in Comparison to Combined Epidural-Inhaled Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Reduced Postoperative Analgesic Demand After Inhaled Anesthesia in Comparison to Combined Epidural-Inhaled Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Reduced postoperative analgesic demand after inhaled anesthesia in comparison to combined epidural-inhaled anesthesia in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

We studied the effect of epidural/general combination anesthesia, in comparison to inhaled anesthesia, on postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with enflurane in 70% N2O as necessary to maintain arterial blood pressure within 20% of baseline. Group I received bupivacaine 0.25% 0.2 mL/kg and sufentanil 1 microgram/kg 65 +/- 3 min before dermal incision and 0.1 mL/kg bupivacaine 0.25% + sufentanil 2 micrograms/mL (BS) every hour thereafter. Group II received 0.2 mL/kg of BS 316 +/- 15 min after dermal incision in the recovery room. Postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with BS was provided. Pain intensities and consumption of PCEA BS were recorded on postoperative days (PODs) 1 to 5. Inspiratory fraction of enflurane was lower (0.5% +/- 0.01% vs 1.6% +/- 0.04%; P < 0.001) in Group I compared with Group II. Cumulative postoperative consumption of PCEA BS was higher in Group I compared with Group II from the evening of POD 2 until the end of the study (301 +/- 19 mL vs 249 +/- 17 mL; P < 0.001), while pain intensities were comparable at all times. The intraoperative effects of combined BS and enflurane/N2O (inspiratory fraction [Fi] approximately 1 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration [MAC]) did not preempt postoperative pain in contrast to enflurane/N2O anesthesia (Fi approximately 2.8 MAC).

Prophylactic Use of Epidural Mepivacaine/Morphine, Systemic Diclofenac, and Metamizole Reduces Postoperative Morphine Consumption after Major Abdominal Surgery

Surgical trauma induces nociceptive sensitization leading to amplification and prolongation of postoperative pain. While preemptive analgesic treatment with numerous agents has been successful in experimental animals, results of human studies remain conflicting. The authors used a multimodal approach for preemptive analgesia before abdominal surgery: diclofenac and metamizole inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, thus influencing peripheral sensitization; epidural local anesthetics induce conduction block, epidural opioids inhibit nociceptive synaptic transmission, and metamizole induces descending inhibition. The interaction of these drugs might suppress spinal nociceptive sensitization and postoperative analgesic demand. One hundred forty-two patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to one of three groups and studied prospectively. Epidural catheters in groups 1 and 2 were placed at interspaces T8-T10, the position of the catheter was confirmed by epidurography, and sensory testing after administration of 5 ml mepivacaine 1%. Group 1 received 75 mg intramuscular diclofenac, 1000 mg intravenous metamizole, 5.3 +/- 1 mg epidural morphine, and 15-20 ml mepivacaine 1% 85 +/- 41 min before skin incision. Epidural analgesia was maintained by injections of 0.1 ml.kg-1.h-1 mepivacaine 1%. Group 2 patients received the balanced analgesia regimen before wound closure (221 +/- 86 min after skin incision). Group 3 patients did not receive any study substances. General anesthesia was induced with 5 mg/kg thiopental and 2 micrograms/kg fentanyl and maintained with enflurane and nitrous oxide. Postoperative analgesia consisted of patient-controlled intravenous morphine over 5 days. Median visual analog scale pain intensities were < 3 cm and did not differ among the groups. Morphine consumption per hour on postoperative day 2 was 0.8 +/- 0.1 mg/h (group 1) < 1.2 +/- 0.1 mg/h (group 2) = 1.1 +/- 0.1 mg/h (group 3) and cumulative morphine consumption (in mg) on the morning of day 5 was 95 +/- 9 (group 1) < 111 +/- 11 (group 2) < 137 +/- 10 (group 3). A significant reduction of patient controlled analgesia requirements could be achieved by our preincisional balanced analgesia regimen compared to application before wound closure. The more distinct difference between patients receiving balanced analgesia and those in the control group is based on the analgesic action of the study substances, which lasted about 14 h.

The Effect of Epidural Versus General Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain and Analgesic Requirements in Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy

Background Although preemptive analgesia has been shown to decrease postinjury pain in animals, studies in humans have provided controversial results. The authors studied whether surgical epidural anesthesia with local anesthetics could affect postoperative pain and analgesic demands, when compared with general anesthesia. Methods Male patients scheduled for radical retropubic prostatectomy were randomly assigned to receive epidural anesthesia only (EA, n = 34), combined epidural and general anesthesia (EG, n = 32), or general anesthesia only (GA, n = 30). A lumbar epidural catheter was inserted and tested in all patients. In the EA group, an induction dose of 0.25 ml/kg epidural bupivacaine (0.5%) was followed during surgery by a continuous infusion of 0.1 ml.kg-1.h-1 0.125% bupivacaine. In the EG group, 0.2 ml/kg epidural bupivacaine (0.5%) was injected after induction of general anesthesia but before surgery, followed by epidural infusion of 0.1 ml.kg-1.h-1 0.125% bupivacaine. In the GA group, anesthesia was maintained with morphine, isoflurane, and N2O. Epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was provided with bupivacaine and fentanyl for all patients in the postoperative period. Postoperative pain scores and analgesic requirements were examined and compared between groups every 4-8 h for 3-5 postoperative days. Results Intraoperatively, EA patients received significantly more epidural bupivacaine than EG patients (129 +/- 6 mg vs. 98 +/- 6 mg, respectively. Recovery room median residual sensory level in EA patients (T6 +/- 2) was significantly higher than in EG patients (T10 +/- 2). PCA demand was greater in the GA and EG groups when compared with the EA group in postoperative days 2 (126 +/- 9 ml, 112 +/- 9 ml, 90 +/- 6 ml, respectively; P = 0.01) and 3 (89 +/- 10 ml, 83 +/- 9 ml, 48 +/- 5 respectively; P = 0.005). There was no difference in PCA demand between the GA and EG groups in the postoperative period. No significant clinical differences in postoperative mean pain scores were recorded in the first 5 days after surgery in the three anesthetic groups (range 0-2/10). Conclusions In patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery, the neuraxial blockade and surgical anesthesia achieved by epidural local anesthetics was associated with decreased postoperative analgesic demands. Lower postoperative analgesic requirements in the EA group, when compared with both the EG and GA groups, indicate that: (1) EA patients had less postoperative pain, and (2) an efficient intraoperative blockade of noxious afferent signals to the central nervous system is fundamental in reducing postoperative pain.

Pain avoidance in rheumatoid arthritis.

Forty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared to 52 pain-free controls in terms of tolerance/avoidance and rated intensity of cold pressor pain. The patients had lower thresholds and tolerated the cold pressor pain for a shorter period, although not significantly so. However, the patients rated the novel nociceptive cold stimulus as significantly more painful. The results demonstrate that arthritis patients report novel pain experiences as being more painful, which necessitates special attention to their post-operative analgesic demands needs. Tolerance/avoidance of the cold pressor pain had different correlates in the more and less chronic patient groups, and was respectively related to the affective and sensory qualities of the pain stimulus. The results confirmed qualitative similarities between different chronic pain populations, suggesting that chronicity of the pain problem may be a more important factor in determining pain experience and pain-related behaviours than the specific locus of the pain.