Primary Outcomes
OME, postoperative pain, Pain, pain
The primary outcomes of the current study included daily postoperative pain scores, daily analgesic steps of the WHO pain ladder as an indicator of pain severity, and daily opioid consumption.Pain scores were assessed in admitted patients at POD 1–10 and at the morning of discharge. Pain was assessed on a 0–10 NRS.Analgesic steps were assessed in admitted patients at POD 1–10 and at the day of discharge. Analgesic steps were based on the WHO analgesic ladder: (I) no analgesics or paracetamol ± NSAID, (II) addition of weak opioids (i.e., tramadol), (III) addition of strong opioids, and (IV) addition of epidural or esketamine.Data on all administered analgetics, administration routes, and dosages were collected for postoperative day (POD) 1–5. For optimal comparison, opioids were converted into daily oral morphine equivalents (OME),