Postoperativ smärta efter kirurgisk abort

Sammanfattning:   Pain is common among women undergoing first trimester surgical abortions. At the postoperative unit, department of gynaecology, University Hospital, Uppsala, the goal is that 80 % of the women should rate pain as £ 3 on a numeric rating scale (NRS), when leaving the unit. The aim of the study was to investigate how rating was performed at the unit and to investigate patient’s perceptions of pain after having undergone first trimester surgical abortion. 20 patients (74%) participated in the study. Ninety percent of the patients rated their pain as NRS £ 3 when leaving the unit. Seven patients (35 %) rated their pain as NRS > 3 directly after operation, and 2 (10 %) patients NRS > 3 when leaving the unit. There were no correlations between patient’s age and ratings of pain. There was no difference in rating of pain between patients with prior vaginal delivery and patients who had no prior vaginal delivery. There were no correlations between ratings of pain and gestational age. Conclusion: It is important that patients undergoing first trimester surgical abortions receive adequate pain treatment. The unit’s goal for postoperative pain treatment is achived, 90 % of the patients rated their pain as NRS £ 3 when leaving the unit.