Special Features of Postoperative Pain Management in the Oncological Patient

Abstract

Chronic Postoperative Pain (CPOP) has a multifactorial etiology and affects the biopsychosocial sphere of the patient suffering from it. Pharmacological treatment alone has been shown to be insufficient for optimal management. Given that fact, the emergence of multidisciplinary teams where doctors specializing in pain management work together with nurses, physiotherapists, mental health professionals, occupational therapists and social workers, among others, to formulate and implement an individualized therapeutic plan, has shown itself to be an effective option in which all areas of the patient that are involved in the origin and consequences of the pain are specifically addressed.

In this chapter we will review the current literature on multimodal chronic pain management and specifically that pertaining to CPOP. In addition, we will investigate whether these multidisciplinary approaches would have a place in the prevention of CPOP in patients who are due to undergo surgery.