Postoperative pain remains a significant clinical challenge that directly affects patient recovery, functional outcomes, and overall quality of care. Inadequate pain control in the early postoperative period is associated with delayed mobilization, increased risk of complications, prolonged hospital stay, and the development of chronic pain. The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) represents a critical phase in which pain is actively assessed and managed, and analgesic consumption during this period serves as an objective indicator of analgesic requirements and effectiveness of perioperative pain strategies.
This prospective observational study aims to identify patient-related, surgical, and anesthesia-related factors influencing analgesic consumption in the early postoperative period among adult patients admitted to the PACU following elective surgery. No additional interventions will be performed, and all perioperative management will follow routine clinical practice. Data will be collected prospectively from clinical records, anesthesia charts, and PACU monitoring forms.
The primary outcome is total analgesic consumption during the PACU stay. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity assessed using a standardized pain scale at PACU admission and discharge, requirement for rescue analgesia, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and length of stay in the PACU.
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the identification of patients at higher risk for increased analgesic requirements and to support the development of individualized pain management strategies, ultimately improving perioperative care quality and patient outcomes.
Adults aged 18 years and older
Undergoing elective surgical procedures
Admitted to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after surgery
Receiving general and/or regional anesthesia
Patients younger than 18 years
Emergency surgical procedures
Patients transferred directly to the intensive care unit postoperatively
PACU stay shorter than 30 minutes
Adult patients undergoing elective surgical procedures and admitted to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) in a tertiary oncology hospital. The study population represents a heterogeneous surgical cohort managed under routine perioperative care conditions.
Cohort
Prospective
Observational Assessment
Other interventionThis is a non-interventional observational study. No experimental intervention is applied. All patients receive routine perioperative care according to institutional clinical practice. The study involves prospective collection and analysis of clinical data related to analgesic consumption and associated factors during the early postoperative period in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).
Total Analgesic Consumption in the PACU
Total amount of analgesic medications administered to patients during their stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Analgesic consumption will be recorded and standardized (e.g., converted to morphine equivalents if applicable) to allow comparison across patients.
Pain Intensity at PACU Admission
Pain intensity assessed at admission to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) using a standardized pain scale (e.g., Visual Analog Scale or Numeric Rating Scale, 0-10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst imaginable pain).
Pain Intensity at PACU Discharge
Pain intensity assessed at discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) using a standardized pain scale (e.g., Visual Analog Scale or Numeric Rating Scale, 0-10).
Requirement for Rescue Analgesia in the PACU
Need for additional rescue analgesic treatment during PACU stay, recorded as whether rescue analgesia was required.
Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in the PACU
Occurrence of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting during PACU stay, recorded based on routine clinical assessment.
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