The anticipation of pain
whilst it may be obvious that some surgical procedures cause more pain than others. it should be borne in mind that individuals' responses to any given procedure can vary widely. More- n be at a greater risk of severe over, some groups of patients may postoperative pain. Patients at risk include those with pre- existing chronic those taking strong opioid analgesics pain. (whether prescribed as part of a substance abuse disorder) and or those with high levels of anxiety including those who have had a previous poor pain experience. Some hospitals now include the identification of these potential problems as part of routine pre- assessment. Prior notification of the acute pain team allows more complex treatment options to be planned where appro priate, although the trend to admit patients on the day of surgery can make this difficult in practice. The Prospect group has reviewed the evidence base and provides guidance for the best pain management for specific procedures.