RT Book, Section A1 Ducharme, James A2 Tintinalli, Judith E. A2 Ma, O. John A2 Yealy, Donald M. A2 Meckler, Garth D. A2 Stapczynski, J. Stephan A2 Cline, David M. A2 Thomas, Stephen H. SR Print(0) ID 1166529275 T1 Acute Pain Management T2 Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 9e YR 2020 FD 2020 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781260019933 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1166529275 RD 2024/03/28 AB Pain is the most common presenting symptom for patients coming to the ED, with 70% to 80% of all patients having pain as their primary complaint.1,2 Despite increasing research and information about pain management, oligoanalgesia, or the undertreatment of pain, persists.3 While all patients are susceptible to oligoanalgesia, certain subgroups, such as ethnic minorities, the aged, the very young, and those with diminished cognitive function, are more at risk (Table 35-1).4-7 Pain management can also be negatively influenced by concerns of prescription opioid misuse, a situation declared to be a public health epidemic in North America.8 An initial prescription of opioids, such as upon ED discharge, has been associated with persistence of opioid use months after the original visit.9 Nevertheless, appropriate treatment of acute severe pain should not be withheld for fear of facilitating drug misuse; rather, opioid use should be but one of many options considered in pain management.10 Pain and addiction are not mutually exclusive.