This guideline, developed based on a systematic review of the evidence, provides recommendations developed by a multidisciplinary expert panel on management of postoperative pain.
The panel concluded that optimal postoperative pain management begins in the preoperative period and is made on the basis of an assessment of the patient and development of a plan of care tailored to the individual and the surgical procedure involved, with follow-up assessments and adjustments as needed.
The panel recommended multimodal regimens in many situations, although the exact components will vary depending on the patient, setting, and surgical procedure.
The panel identified a number of key research gaps, including the optimal methods for managing patients receiving opioids before surgery, the effectiveness of opioid-sparing multimodal regimens, and in a number of areas related to management of perioperative pain in infants and children.