Portuguese Recommendations for the Treatment of Acute Pain 2024

Abstract

Acute pain has been undertreated for decades. The solution does not appear to lie in the creation of novel drugs or analgesic technologies; instead, a viable solution seems to involve establishing a well-organized system that effectively use existing knowledge. While there is a consensus on the beneficial role of acute pain units in enhancing pain treatment and overall outcomes, their implementation poses a challenge and has not achieved the expected results. The General Directorate of Health published, in 2012, a standard requiring the establishment of an Acute Pain Unit in all hospitals. This standard regulates every aspect of its organization and operation, outlining specific criteria for evaluating its successful implementation. In 2017, the Portuguese Society of Anesthesiology created a working group to address the inquiries posed by the standard. The group aimed to develop practical clinical consensus, leading to the recommendations published in 2018. As we approach the six-year mark, a review of the document is necessary, with a focus on incorporating developments in the field.