Prospective Evaluation of Pain Assessment and Management Protocol for Post-procedural Pain After Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of Colonic Polyps >20mm

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of large (≥20 mm) laterally spreading colonic lesions (LSL) is safe, effective and superior to surgery. This advantage is based on a day stay model of care, however the most common adverse event is abdominal pain and this is a major impediment to this efficiency. No prospective data exist on the optimal selection of analgesics, the necessary recovery period or the triggers that should alert the practitioner to a more serious trajectory and the need for escalation of care. We aimed to characterise potential predictors for persistent (\>5 minutes) post-procedural pain (PP) and develop a simple and effective management algorithm for patients with PP based on the need for analgesics in recovery. Data on consecutive patients with a LSL referred for EMR at a single, tertiary referral centre were included. Patient and lesion characteristics and peri-procedural data were prospectively collected. Standard post EMR care included 2 hours in first stage recovery followed by 1 hour in 2nd stage recovery where clear fluids were given and discharge after if the patients were well. PP was graded from 0 to 10 using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). If PP occurred \>5 minutes, 1 gram of paracetamol was administered parenterally and outcomes were monitored. If pain settled the patient was transferred to second stage recovery after medical review. PP \>30 minutes lead to clinical review and upgrade of analgesics to fentanyl, with a starting dose of 25 micrograms (mcg) up to a maximum of 100 mcg. Investigations, admission and interventions for PP are recorded.