Post-Operative Pain and Analgesia at the University of Gondar Hospital

Authors

  • Judith P. Cheong-Leen UoG
  • Abdulmenan Mohammednur UoG
  • Abdulrahman Tune UoG
  • Ashebir Nigussie UoG
  • Afework Amiha UoG
  • Alemu Girma UoG
  • Gashaw Messele Messele UoG
  • Benjamin d.Z. Silverman UoG

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20372/ejhbs.v5i1.199

Keywords:

post-operative pain, analgesia, analgesic ladder, audit

Abstract

Background: Post-operative pain has humanitarian, physiological and economic implications. So far the severity of post-operative pain and the effectiveness of analgesic prescribing has not been investigated in the University of Gondar previously.  

Methods: Baseline data for pain in the post-operative period was gathered from 51 patients in November and December 2009, using a numerical scale or visual-analogue scale (VAS) according to patient ability. Analgesic prescription and administration information was collected for all patients, allowing the relationship between pain severity and analgesic practice to be elucidated.  

Results: Over half (54.9%) of the patients had moderate or severe pain at rest, whilst nearly three-quarters (72.6%) had these levels of dynamic pain. No patients were prescribed paracetamol. Overall, 56.9% of the patients were prescribed a NSAID and 23.5% had received it in the preceding 8 hours. These rates did not vary significantly with pain severity. Only 3.9% of patients had opioid analgesia prescribed.

Discussion: Current analgesic practice could be improved. Recommendations are made to introduce a drug prescription and administration chart to the hospital, with training for the relevant staff. Future re-auditing of analgesic use may help to improve practice.

 

Author Biographies

Judith P. Cheong-Leen, UoG

Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

Abdulmenan Mohammednur, UoG

Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

Abdulrahman Tune, UoG

Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

Ashebir Nigussie, UoG

1Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

Afework Amiha, UoG

Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

Alemu Girma, UoG

Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

Gashaw Messele Messele, UoG

Department of Surgery, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

Benjamin d.Z. Silverman, UoG

Department of Anaesthesia, the University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia

 

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Published

2021-07-14

How to Cite

1.
P. Cheong-Leen J, Mohammednur A, Tune A, Nigussie A, Amiha A, Girma A, Messele GM, d.Z. Silverman B. Post-Operative Pain and Analgesia at the University of Gondar Hospital. Ethiop J Health Biomed Sci [Internet]. 2021 Jul. 14 [cited 2024 Dec. 5];5(1):37-43. Available from: https://journal.uog.edu.et/index.php/EJHBS/article/view/199

Issue

Section

Brief Communication