Iraqi Journal of Medical Sciences






   
Vol. 19 Issue 2 July - December / 2021
Published on website | Date : 2021-12-28 11:10:23

Post-Cholecystectomy Pain Assessment Using Visual Analogue Scale and Numerical Rating Scale

Basher A. Abdulhassan


Abstract

Background: Pain defines as unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Postoperative pain should be assessed regularly and documented carefully as it is a significant part of postoperative care. Pain scales are useful for assessment and monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. The 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) and the numerical rating scale (NRS) are the most commonly used one.
Objective: To compare between VAS and NRS for assessing post-operative pain in patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City from the period of 1st of October 2019 to the 1st of March 2020. Fifty patients were enrolled in this study. All underwent elective cholecystectomy. Patient consents were obtained. Pain assessment was done when patients fully recovered and asking for pain relief and then one hour after giving analgesia.
Results: Of the 50 patients, females were 42 (84%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been done for 45 (90%); 33 (66%) patients received parenteral opioid and paracetamol, the remaining 17 (34%) received only paracetamol. There were no significant correlations between most of the suggested risk factors and pain perception apart from type of medications used for pain control. There is strong correlation between NRS and VAS before and after analgesia (P< 0.01), while no observed significant effect or relation between other demographic and surgical parameters on pain score rating.
Conclusion: This study validated that both the NRS and the VAS are two comparable acute pain scores mostly used in practice. NRS, which is easy, less pain inducing and more user friendly in the post-operative period has a strong linear association with VAS, thus can be substituted for VAS in assessment of postoperative pain.
Keywords: Pain, cholecystectomy, Visual analogue scale, numerical rating scale
Citation: Abdulhassan BA. Post-cholecystectomy pain assessment using visual analogue scale and numerical rating scale. Iraqi JMS. 2021; 19(2): 202-212. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.19.2.10


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