Postoperative pain management after abdominal transplantations

Abstract

Purpose of review The aim of this review article is to present current recommendations as well as knowledge gaps and controversies pertaining to commonly utilized postoperative pain management after solid organ transplantation in the abdominal cavity. Recent findings Postsurgical pain has been identified as one of the major challenges in recovery and treatment after solid organ transplants. Many perioperative interventions and management strategies are available for reducing and managing postoperative pain. Management should be tailored to the individual needs, taking an interdisciplinary and holistic approach and following enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines. Many centers currently utilize peripheral and neuraxial blocks during transplantation surgery, but these techniques are far from standardized practices. The utilization of these procedures is often dependent on transplantation centers’ historical methods and perioperative cultures. Summary The optimal pain management regimen has not yet been definitively established, and current scientific evidence does not yet support the endorsement of a certain analgesic approach. This objective necessitates the need for high-quality randomized controlled trials.