Postoperative Pain in Scheduled Craniotomy

Postoperative pain after craniotomy is frequent, with moderate-severe intensity. The fear to the side effects of opioids (nausea and vomiting and sedation), and NSAIDs (bleeding) makes it difficult to obtain adequate analgesic control in these patients. Preoperative anxiety may be associated with a poorer postoperative analgesic control, hindering the adequate postoperative evolution and increasing hospital stay and adverse effects. In this observational study, the investigators aimed to assess the postoperative analgesic management in patients undergoing scheduled craniotomy following routine clinical practice and to relate preoperative anxiety with the postoperative analgesic evaluation in this population.