LAUSR

The control of pain is a central aspect of the patient experience in dermatologic surgery. In fact, the recognition of the importance of pain management has led to a wider movement in all fields of medicine toward improved pain control over the past 20 years. In 2001, the Joint Commissions on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JAHCO) incorporated adequate assessment, monitoring, and treatment of pain as one of the conditions for hospital accreditation. One response to these standards has been increased prescription of opioids, which outside of the risk of dependence and addiction, also carry risks of other undesirable adverse events in the postoperative period including nausea, emesis, constipation, and central nervous system and respiratory depression, which can lead to serious complications.