Evidence mapPaperPMID 40944903Full record

SynthesisWorld journal of surgery2025

The Role of Surgical Techniques in Reducing Postoperative Pain in Abdominal Surgery: Evidence From the PROSPECT Systematic Reviews.

Stephan Maximilian Freys, Esther Miriam Pogatzki-Zahn, Narinder Rawal, Girish Premji Joshi, PROSPECT Working Group of the European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA)

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in World journal of surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Da VinciSurgical endoscopy · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Stephan Maximilian FreysDepartment of Surgery, DIAKO Ev. Diakonie-Krankenhaus, Bremen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8034-8223
Esther Miriam Pogatzki-ZahnDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
Narinder RawalDepartment of Anaesthesiology, Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden.
Girish Premji JoshiDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
PROSPECT Working Group of the European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA)

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionInadequate postoperative pain control remains a significant concern as patients continue to experience moderate-to-severe pain after surgery. The influence of surgical techniques has not previously been systematically reviewed.

methodsIn this clinical review, data regarding the influence of surgical techniques on postoperative pain after abdominal surgery were extracted and collated from seven published PROSPECT recommendations. The effects of surgical incision and its technique, laparoscopic technique, and local anesthetic infiltration were critically reviewed. The surgical techniques that are recommended and those that are not recommended for the seven procedures are presented.

resultsIn general, very few studies have assessed the influence of surgical techniques on postoperative pain management. PROSPECT recommends transverse over vertical incision for open colorectal surgery, and cutting diathermy over use of scalpel in appendicectomy, inguinal hernia, and open colorectal surgeries. For laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a three-port (vs. four-port) technique and low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (< 12 mmHg) are recommended to reduce the risk of postoperative shoulder pain.

conclusionThis clinical review demonstrates the important role of surgeons in achieving clinically significant benefits by using appropriate incision techniques, laparoscopic methods, and local anesthetic infiltration. Effective pain relief after surgery can improve recovery and reduce the risk of chronic pain. Our study emphasizes the need for future research in this field.

Indexed as

AbdomenPostoperative PainHumansLaparoscopylaparoscopic surgerypostoperative painprocedure‐specific pain managementPROSPECTsurgical technique

Identifiers

PMID40944903
PMCPMC12582144

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.