Moderne medikamentöse Schmerztherapie in der Gefäßmedizin – was der Gefäßchirurg dazu wissen sollte anhand einer einrichtungsspezifischen „Standard Operating Procedure“ (SOP)

Years ago, the interdisciplinary working group of the University of Magdeburg published a “Standard Operating Procedure” (SOP) for postoperative pain therapy in general surgery.

It was necessary to adapt the SOP “Postoperative pain therapy” to vascular surgery.

A narrative short review based on the SOP—“Pain Therapy in Vascular Surgery” (QR code attached).

Although the incidence of most vascular changes due to disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis) are present in the per mille range in the population, some of the vascular changes due to civilization (ulcus cruris, chronic wound) and increasing age based on the increased life expectancy are sometimes present in the double-digit percentage range and continue to increase in incidence. They are initially treated using therapy for the risk factors and only at higher or more pronounced stages by surgical therapy. In the case of other ischemic vascular changes (aneurysm, carotid stenosis, acute vascular occlusion), endovascular or open surgical procedures predominate.

Unlike other areas of pain management, many patients with vascular disease do not necessarily require prolonged treatment with painkillers. Pain therapy is based on pain quality and previous pain intensity, not on age or gender.