An audit of post-operative pain and nausea in day case surgery

A telephone audit was carried out on patients 24 hours after day case surgery. An initial audit shortly after the day case opened indicated pain scores and nausea that were considered unacceptable. Some 8.6% of patients called their family doctor (GP) to visit their home in the post-operative period. Pre-operative Piroxicam 20 mg was then initiated (in most patients) to reduce the pain scores, which it did. Only one patient in 111 (0.9%) called their GP out, but nausea scores remained unchanged. Methods to reduce this index are suggested.