Journals / Çukurova Anestezi ve Cerrahi Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1

Evaluation of Postoperative Pain Severity and Rescue Analgesic Administration in General Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

Genel Cerrahi Hastalarında Ameliyat Sonrası Ağrı Şiddeti ve Kurtarıcı Analjezik Uygulamasının Değerlendirilmesi: Prospektif Bir Kohort Çalışması

Esma Gökçe(ADIYAMAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-9581-6958
Derya Gezer(Tarsus Üniversitesi)0000-0003-4576-2204
Hamide Şişman(SELÇUK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-6867-9054
Sevban Arslan(ÇUKUROVA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-8893-9391
Pages
223–231
Publication Date
2026-03-17
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings support structured pain assessment, reassessment and individualized, multimodal postoperative pain management in surgical nursing practice.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: This study was conducted to examine postoperative pain severity and the time-dependent pattern of rescue analgesic administration, and to identify factors associated with this pattern in elective general surgery patients.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: This prospective descriptive cohort study included a total of 369 elective general surgery patients evaluated between February 2022 and January 2023 in a tertiary university hospital.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings support structured pain assessment, reassessment and individualized, multimodal postoperative pain management in surgical nursing practice.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2022 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Postoperatif ağrı · Kurtarıcı analjezi · Genel cerrahi

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to examine postoperative pain severity and the time-dependent pattern of rescue analgesic administration, and to identify factors associated with this pattern in elective general surgery patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective descriptive cohort study included a total of 369 elective general surgery patients evaluated between February 2022 and January 2023 in a tertiary university hospital. Pain severity (Visual Analogue Scale) and rescue (additional) analgesic administration were recorded at postoperative 0-2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-12, and 13-24 hours. Demographic and clinical factors associated with pain intensity and opioid use were analyzed. Results: Mean pain severity significantly decreased from 0-2 hours to 13-24 hours (2.39 ± 1.75 vs. 1.69 ± 2.17, p<0.001). Pain was lower among women at 0-2 hours and among older adults (≥65 years) and those with chronic disease at 3-4 hours. Male patients were more likely to receive opioids across the early postoperative period, and opioid use at 3-4 hours was higher in patients without chronic disease. Conclusions: During the first 24 postoperative hours, pain severity decreased while rescue analgesic administration increased over time. Rescue analgesic patterns were influenced by age, sex, and chronic disease status. Although low pain scores suggest generally adequate pain management, the increasing need for rescue analgesia indicates that routine practice is open to improvement. These findings support structured pain assessment, reassessment and individualized, multimodal postoperative pain management in surgical nursing practice.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışma, elektif genel cerrahi hastalarında postoperatif ağrı şiddetini ve zamana bağlı kurtarıcı analjezik uygulama paternini incelemek ve bununla ilişkili faktörleri belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu prospektif tanımlayıcı kohort çalışması, Şubat 2022- Ocak 2023 tarihleri arasında üçüncü basamak bir üniversite hastanesinde değerlendirilen toplam 369 elektif genel cerrahi hastasını kapsamaktadır. Ağrı şiddeti (Görsel Analog Skalası- VAS) ve kurtarıcı (ek) analjezik uygulamaları postoperatif 0-2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-12 ve 13-24. saatlerde kaydedildi. Ağrı yoğunluğu ve opioid kullanımı ile ilişkili demografik ve klinik faktörler analiz edildi. Sonuç: Ortalama ağrı şiddeti 0-2. saatlerden 13-24. saatlere doğru anlamlı şekilde azaldı (2.39 ± 1.75'e karşın 1.69 ± 2.17, p<0.001). Ağrı şiddeti, 0-2. saatlerde kadınlarda; 3-4. saatlerde ise yaşlı yetişkinlerde (≥65 yaş) ve kronik hastalığı olanlarda daha düşüktü. Erkek hastaların erken postoperatif dönemde opioid alma olasılığı daha yüksekti ve 3-4. saatlerde opioid kullanımı kronik hastalığı olmayan hastalarda daha fazlaydı. Tartışma: Postoperatif ilk 24 saat boyunca ağrı şiddeti azalırken, kurtarıcı analjezik uygulaması zamanla arttı. Kurtarıcı analjezik paternleri yaş, cinsiyet ve kronik hastalık durumundan etkilendi. Düşük ağrı skorları ağrı yönetiminin genel olarak yeterli olduğunu gösterse de artan kurtarıcı analjezik ihtiyacı rutin uygulamanın geliştirilmeye açık olduğunu işaret etmektedir. Bu bulgular, cerrahi hemşireliği uygulamasında yapılandırılmış ağrı değerlendirmesini, yeniden değerlendirmesini ve bireyselleştirilmiş, multimodal postoperatif ağrı yönetimini desteklemektedir.

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Cite This Article

Gökçe, E., Gezer, D., Şişman, H., Sarıtaş, A. G., Arslan, S. (2026). Evaluation of Postoperative Pain Severity and Rescue Analgesic Administration in General Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study. Çukurova Anestezi ve Cerrahi Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 223–231. https://doi.org/10.36516/jocass.1841802

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