A Prospective Observational Assessment of Postoperative Pain and Recovery Following Elective Surgery

Abstract

Background:  Elective surgery is often associated with postoperative pain, which can delay recovery, prolong hospital stay, and reduce patient satisfaction. Early recognition and management of pain are essential for optimal postoperative recovery. The study evaluated postoperative pain and recovery after elective surgery and explored the relationship between perioperative factors and pain intensity. Methods: This prospective, observational study included 200 patients undergoing elective surgery at a hospital over six months. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) evaluated postoperative pain at the 6th hour, 24th hour, and 48th hour. The outcomes of recovery were defined as time to first ambulation, ability to return to oral intake, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and overall recovery. Data were analyzed utilizing SPSS version 26.0, continuous variables were presented as mean ± SD, and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Independent-samples t-tests and Chi-square tests were used, with a p<0.05 as significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 45.8 ± 13.2 years, and 56.0% were male. The mean pain score decreased from 5.8 ± 1.9 at 6 hours to 3.9 ± 1.6 at 24 hours and 2.2 ± 1.2 at 48 hours. The majority of patients (70.5%) recovered well, and 78.0% showed no postoperative complications. ASA Grade III, general surgery, general anesthesia, longer operative duration, delayed ambulation, and prolonged hospital stay were significantly related to the incidence of moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. Conclusion: Postoperative pain gradually decreased during the early recovery phase, and most patients experienced good recovery. Perioperative factors were significantly associated with higher postoperative pain severity.