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ECONOMICS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH

Postoperative Analgesia: Economics, Resource Use, and Patient Satisfaction in an Urban Teaching Hospital

Scott A. Strassels, PharmD BCPS^*, Connie Chen, PharmD, and Daniel B. Carr, MD FABPM

*Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Pharmacia, Skokie, Illinois; and Department of Anesthesia, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Scott Strassels, PharmD, BCPS, Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Address e-mail to scotts1{at}u.washington.edu

We sought to describe the economic and humanistic burden after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), total hip replacement (THR), or total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Resource use and costs were estimated from the hospital perspective. The mean worst pain severity was 8.9, 8.1, and 7.6 on a 0- to 10-point scale after TAH, THR, and TKR, respectively. Postoperative pain was worst on postoperative day 1 after TAH or THR, and on postoperative day 2 after TKR. Analgesic medications relieved from 60% to nearly 78% of postoperative pain, but participants re- ported moderate-to-high levels of interference with general activity, walking ability, and sleep because of postoperative pain. Most costs were attributed to the hospital admission and operating room. The average length of hospitalization was 2.8 days after TAH, and 3.9 days after THR or TKR. This study provides insight into patients’ experience with pain after common surgeries, perioperative costs, and medical resource use.

IMPLICATIONS: Despite impressive relief with analgesics, postoperative pain interferes with patients’ ability to sleep, walk, and participate in other activities. Medications used postoperatively account for a small portion of total costs. Satisfaction ratings alone are a poor indicator of pain control. These data can be used to help improve pain relief.

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