Pain management in the care of otolaryngology patients: An anesthesiologist and pain physician’s perspective

Abstract

Pain is not only a common unpleasant experience but also a leading cause of short- and long-term detrimental effects on many aspects of patients and society. Nevertheless, the mismanagement of pain can lead to even more dreadful sequelae. Thus, a thorough understanding of pain and its proper management is essential for both medical and surgical practice. This chapter describes the pain conditions of which otolaryngologists often encounter in a daily practice, starting from acute postoperative pain, followed by chronic postsurgical pain, chronic noncancer pain, and chronic cancer-related pain, respectively. The chapter will help otolaryngologists understand different types of pain, pain assessment methods, and appropriate pain treatment accordingly. Importantly, we also discuss the optimum use of opioids for each type of pain to improve patients’ outcomes while minimizing the risk of complications from opioid use.