Manejo del dolor agudo postoperatorios en pacientes de la especialidad de traumatología, en un hospital del sur de Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: This research investigates the management of acute postoperative pain in trauma patients at a hospital in southern Ecuador, through a quantitative, descriptive, and retrospective study conducted between March and May 2024. The research evaluated the effectiveness of different analgesic strategies and their relationship with sociodemographic and clinical variables. The results revealed a predominance of male patients (63.5%) and a concentration in early and middle adulthood groups (72.1%). The most frequently used therapeutic regimens were paracetamol 1 g every 8 hours (31.7%) and the combination of ketorolac 30 mg every 8 hours with paracetamol 1 g every 8 hours (29.8%). The evolution of pain, measured using the VAS scale, showed a predominance of moderate pain (53.4%) in the immediate postoperative period, progressing to mild pain (69.9%) in the later period. No statistically significant correlations were found between the type of surgery and pain intensity (p>0.05). The study identifies the need to implement more personalized and flexible protocols for managing postoperative pain, as well as to strengthen training programs for healthcare personnel.