Treating pain in burn patients —Switch from Cartesian rationality to Hedonism

Until a few years ago confused, delirious, distressed patients were regarded as an almost “normal” feature of existence in the burn unit. Pain occurred with such a high frequency that it was considered to be a routine consequence of burn trauma; suffering was assumed as a symptom of the underlying disease which would cease when the patient’s condition improved. This viewpoint has e volved dramatically over the course of recent years since many publications have shown that pain and suffering may not be harmless phenomena at all; the presence of pain, anxiety, and delirium has been linked to several adverse events including increased morbidity, prolonged duration of hospital len gth of stay and even increased mortality [1].
Source: Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries - Category: Cosmetic Surgery Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research