SR0953 - Emerging Parenteral Therapies for Multimodal Postoperative Analgesia - Combining analgesics with different mechanisms of action aids the patient in the perioperative setting by targeting more than one pain pathway; this provides additional analgesia and perhaps synergistic pain-relieving effects. A multimodal approach to postoperative pain would provide effective analgesia, reduce opioid-related side effects, and improve clinical outcomes, such as length of hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. However, the optimal combination of analgesics, dosages, and timing of administration to achieve these outcomes are not known. This monograph outlines the current parenteral treatment options and strategies available for the management of postoperative pain.

SR0949 - Pain Management in Older Adults: Clinical Approaches to a Complex Problem? - Chronic pain is not a normal part of aging, however many painful conditions—such as osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathies, fibromyalgia, and others—affect older adults disproportionately more than other age groups. An estimated 60% of community-dwelling elderly suffer from untreated pain and the decreased mobility and functioning that often accompany it. Although awareness of the problem is growing, particularly as the general population ages, pain remains grossly undertreated in older patients. Effective pain management can be hampered by medication-related adverse events, polypharmacy, comorbidities, and cognitive impairment. This piece discusses key considerations in the appropriate prescribing of analgesic agents for the elderly.

PG0923 - Chronic Pain In Perspective Recent Evidence and Clinical Implications - Chronic pain affects approximately 10% to 20% of patients in primary care and is associated with increased morbidity, low quality of life, and many medical and psychological comorbidities. A thorough understanding of chronic pain conditions-including low back pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain-is a key component aspect of developing individualized pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management plans. The task has become more complex as the pathophysiology of pain has become better understood, new therapies have become available, and new guidelines have been published. This pocket guide educates clinicians about clinically diverse chronic pain manifestations and mechanisms, particularly with regard to evidence-based selection and use of pharmacologic treatment strategies.

SR0960 - Clinical Urine Drug Testing During Opioid Therapy: A Case-Based Approach to Patient Monitoring - According to the recent recommendations from the American Pain Society and American Academy of Pain Medicine, implementing a risk management strategy with opioid therapy will allow the physician to take the patient's history and physical examination into account when administering opioids and while frequently monitoring outcomes using strategies such as urine drug testing (UDT). Given the complexities associated with drug screening, physicians need to have an understanding of how to interpret test results. This activity provides pain-treating physicians with up-to-date information and practical case examples to illustrate the implementation and utility of UDT and monitoring in patients with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) who are receiving long-term opioid therapy.