Abstract
Chronic pain is an increasingly prevalent condition, estimated in approximately 32% of the Chilean population. These patients have characteristics that make optimal perioperative care more complex, especially in terms of analgesia, adverse effects of the different drugs, and post-surgical complications. The aim of this publication is to expose the growing problem involved in the management of patients with chronic pain undergoing surgery, and to highlight some considerations that must be taken. Among the most relevant aspects are an adequate characterization of pain and a good analgesic scheme to be used in the perioperative period, preferring a multimodal analgesia approach adjusted according to the patient’s needs. Special consideration should be given to patients with chronic opioids use, those with neuropathic pain and those with fibromyalgia. An adequate follow-up of these groups will allow adjusting the schemes according to their needs and achieve a better perioperative analgesic management.
