Influence of a New “Call-Out Algorithm” for Management of Postoperative Pain and Its Side Effects on Length of Stay in Hospital: A Two-Centre Prospective Randomized Trial

Table 1

Description of efficacy safety score (ESS).

	Score
Mental status
Awake and alert patient	0
Awake patient but influenced by drugs; difficulties in communication	5
Acutely confused, upset/uneasy, hallucinated, or euphoric patient	10
Unresponsive patient
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) status
No postoperative nausea and vomiting	0
Postoperative nausea only	5
Postoperative nausea and vomiting/retching	10
Pain status at rest
No postoperative pain	0
Low-intensity postoperative pain (VNRS 1–3)	1–3
Moderate-intensity postoperative pain (VNRS 4–6)	4–6
Severe-intensity postoperative pain (VNRS 7–10)	7–10
Pain status during mobilization
No postoperative pain	0
Low-intensity postoperative pain (VNRS 1–3)	1–3
Moderate-intensity postoperative pain (VNRS 4–6)	4–6
Severe-intensity postoperative pain (VNRS 7–10)	7–10
General condition status
Patient is stating feeling well	0
Patient has side effects apart from pain and nausea vomiting (e.g., sensation of warmth, flushing, itching, constipation, and urine retention)	5
Patient has acute severe circulation abnormalities (blood pressure ≤ 80 or ≥200 mmHg or mean arterial pressure < 50 mmHg and heart rate ≤ 40 or >110)
Patient has developed acute severe respiratory abnormalities (unusual respiration or respiration rate < 9 or >20/min, long pauses in breathing, and shallow breathing)

single score of 15 (on either consciousness, circulation, or respiration) should call for immediate activation of acute assistance with the patient.