Analgesic Consumption in the Early Postoperative Period: A Prospective Observational PACU Study

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Observational Assessment: This is a non-interventional observational study. No experimental intervention is applied. All patients receive routine perioperative care according to institutional clinical practice. The study involves prospective collection and analysis of clinical data related to analgesic consumption and associated factors during the early postoperative period in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Study summary

Postoperative pain remains a significant clinical challenge that directly affects patient recovery, functional outcomes, and overall quality of care. Inadequate pain control in the early postoperative period is associated with delayed mobilization, increased risk of complications, prolonged hospital stay, and the development of chronic pain. The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) represents a critical phase in which pain is actively assessed and managed, and analgesic consumption during this period serves as an objective indicator of analgesic requirements and effectiveness of perioperative pain strategies.

This prospective observational study aims to identify patient-related, surgical, and anesthesia-related factors influencing analgesic consumption in the early postoperative period among adult patients admitted to the PACU following elective surgery. No additional interventions will be performed, and all perioperative management will follow routine clinical practice. Data will be collected prospectively from clinical records, anesthesia charts, and PACU monitoring forms.

The primary outcome is total analgesic consumption during the PACU stay. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity assessed using a standardized pain scale at PACU admission and discharge, requirement for rescue analgesia, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and length of stay in the PACU.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the identification of patients at higher risk for increased analgesic requirements and to support the development of individualized pain management strategies, ultimately improving perioperative care quality and patient outcomes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Total Analgesic Consumption in the PACU — During PACU stay (from admission to discharge, within approximately 0-4 hours postoperatively)
  Total amount of analgesic medications administered to patients during their stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Analgesic consumption will be recorded and standardized (e.g., converted to morphine equivalents if applicable) to allow comparison across patients.

Trial sites (1)

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