Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study
Background: Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery and patient satisfaction following a cesarean section. However, pain management remains a challenge, especially in developing countries. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the severity of postoperative pain and describe management s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijamr.ijamr_332_24 |
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| author | Bhupendra Kumar Painkra Mekala Ranjith Kumar Stalin Vinayagam |
| author_facet | Bhupendra Kumar Painkra Mekala Ranjith Kumar Stalin Vinayagam |
| author_sort | Bhupendra Kumar Painkra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:
Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery and patient satisfaction following a cesarean section. However, pain management remains a challenge, especially in developing countries.
Aims:
We aimed to evaluate the severity of postoperative pain and describe management strategies among patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods:
This prospective observational study was conducted from December 2020 to February 2021, involving 270 parturients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Eligible parturients were given spinal anesthesia with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 1.8 ml. At the end of the surgery, in the postoperative ward, the pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 0, 6, and 24 h. A record of all analgesics administered in the first 24 h of surgery was maintained, including the drug, dose, route of administration, time, and prescriber. Patient satisfaction was measured using a 2-point Likert scale. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare different drug groups. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses.
Results:
The median (interquartile range) pain scores measured at 0 h, 6 h, and 24 h were 3 (2–4), 3 (2–4), and 2 (2–3), respectively. The majority of patients experienced mild pain (VAS < 3) immediately after surgery, but 33.3% of patients reported moderate-to-severe pain at 6 h. By 24 h, 82.6% reported mild or no pain. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of participants were satisfied with their pain management. The most effective pain relief was achieved with combinations of morphine and ketorolac or paracetamol.
Conclusion:
Postcesarean section pain management was satisfactory when potent opioids were prescribed in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, factors such as parity, urgency of surgery, presence of comorbidities, and side effects should be considered while prescribing the analgesics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8382fbf930a84569b55e8359157d4e8f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2349-4220 2350-0298 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-8382fbf930a84569b55e8359157d4e8f2025-08-20T03:29:18ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsInternational Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research2349-42202350-02982025-01-01121333710.4103/ijamr.ijamr_332_24Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational StudyBhupendra Kumar PainkraMekala Ranjith KumarStalin VinayagamBackground: Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery and patient satisfaction following a cesarean section. However, pain management remains a challenge, especially in developing countries. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the severity of postoperative pain and describe management strategies among patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from December 2020 to February 2021, involving 270 parturients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Eligible parturients were given spinal anesthesia with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 1.8 ml. At the end of the surgery, in the postoperative ward, the pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 0, 6, and 24 h. A record of all analgesics administered in the first 24 h of surgery was maintained, including the drug, dose, route of administration, time, and prescriber. Patient satisfaction was measured using a 2-point Likert scale. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare different drug groups. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Results: The median (interquartile range) pain scores measured at 0 h, 6 h, and 24 h were 3 (2–4), 3 (2–4), and 2 (2–3), respectively. The majority of patients experienced mild pain (VAS < 3) immediately after surgery, but 33.3% of patients reported moderate-to-severe pain at 6 h. By 24 h, 82.6% reported mild or no pain. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of participants were satisfied with their pain management. The most effective pain relief was achieved with combinations of morphine and ketorolac or paracetamol. Conclusion: Postcesarean section pain management was satisfactory when potent opioids were prescribed in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, factors such as parity, urgency of surgery, presence of comorbidities, and side effects should be considered while prescribing the analgesics.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijamr.ijamr_332_24cesarean sectionpainpatient satisfactionpostoperativevisual analog scale |
| spellingShingle | Bhupendra Kumar Painkra Mekala Ranjith Kumar Stalin Vinayagam Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research cesarean section pain patient satisfaction postoperative visual analog scale |
| title | Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_full | Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_short | Assessment of Postoperative Pain among Cesarean Section Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study |
| title_sort | assessment of postoperative pain among cesarean section patients in a tertiary care hospital a prospective observational study |
| topic | cesarean section pain patient satisfaction postoperative visual analog scale |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijamr.ijamr_332_24 |
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