Brief Assessment of Patient Phenotype to Explain Variability in Postsurgical Pain and Opioid Consumption After Cesarean Delivery: Performance of a Novel Brief Questionnaire Compared To Long Questionnaires

( Anesthesiology . 2024;140:701–714. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000004900) Moderate or severe postsurgical pain is reported by a high number of patients following cesarean delivery (CD). Globally, it is the most common surgery performed, and higher pain levels after surgery are associated with persistent postsurgical pain and chronic opioid use. In addition, pain that is present before surgery is associated with worse postoperative pain and thus greater consumption of medications to manage pain. Current tools used to assess psychosocial factors associated with use of pain medication and postoperative pain levels include mainly dichotomous measures or extremely long comprehensive assessments. This study was designed to compare 3 sets of questionnaires that differ in length and detail to explain postoperative pain and opioid consumption variability after CD; first, a 3-item questionnaire (3-IQ); second, a 58-item long questionnaire with the 3-IQ; and third, a novel 19-item brief questionnaire in addition to the 3-IQ.