5 4 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E J U LY 2 0 1 7
Was it a mistake to label pain the 5
th
vital sign?
Back in 2001, when The Joint Commission called pain
the 5
th
vital sign, caregivers increased the use of opi-
oids to ensure patients felt no discomfort. What they
failed to understand at the time is that patients will
accept experiencing some level of post-op pain.
According to one of my previous studies, surgical
patients overwhelmingly said they would rather toler-
ate some pain instead of enduring opioid-related side
effects.
How much are surgical
facilities contributing to the problem?
A recent study of health insurance claims showed that
patients who underwent 11 of the most common types of
surgery were at an increased risk of chronic opioid use.
Most surgeons and anesthesia providers are unaware of the
opioid abuse epidemic that's impacting countless
communities. The culture of care is also partially to blame.
Patients who are in pain believe they should receive strong
painkillers such as opioids. If they don't, they think their
pain can't be effectively managed.
So patients need to alter their expectations?
That's part of the problem. There are also many physicians
urgery's Role in
Slowing the Opioid Epidemic
S
TJ Gan, MD, MBA, MHS, FRCA
Internationally known post-op pain management expert