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Preface
Text users seeking quick reference may find that all they need are the
Summary and recommendations sections of each chapter. These sections in
the diagnosis-based chapters provide a First-line recommendation, the
authors’ opinion as to the best single choice for the condition. This choice
may represent a clearly superior agent, or it may represent a selection of one
drug among many with similar safety and efficacy.
Since clinicians treating pain have to select a single drug, this text’s chapter
authors were asked to do the same. The fact that more than one drug may be
a “right” answer to a clinical situation is reflected in the authors’ provision of
Reasonable recommendations. The Reasonable classifications should be
interpreted as just that – analgesic approaches that may or may not be as
good as the First-line choice, but which are defensible as selections for the
case at hand. The next sections in the Summary and recommendations
provide advice for pregnant patients and for children; both safety and efficacy
are considered. The clinical chapters conclude with mention of Special
circumstances that may modify analgesia recommendations.
I hope that this text with its wisdom of many experienced authors proves
useful to increasingly busy ED clinicians. Whether the reference confirms old
habits as state-of-the-art, identifies new approaches that may be helpful, or
even helps settle arguments (meperidine for biliary colic?), this book will be
successful if you, the clinician, find that it assists your efforts to improve the
comfort of your patients.