Singap Med J
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The management of postoperative pain is an increasingly important aspect of healthcare, leading to the establishment of acute pain services in major surgical centres worldwide. The acute pain service (APS) was established in most Singapore hospitals in the 1990s. We analysed data collected in our institution over a ten-year period (1998-2007), documenting our experiences, outcomes and complications encountered by our APS. ⋯ The move away from invasive and less targeted analgesic modalities has not compromised the quality of analgesia provided. Major morbidity remains extremely rare and incidence of complications has been reduced over the years. Patient satisfaction remains well in excess of 90 percent, and the side effects are largely well controlled. With further advancements in the provision of acute postoperative analgesia, the APS will continue to play an important role in the holistic convalescence of the surgical patient.