160
M. Koeny
Furthermore, the ANS is not only influenced by pain but also by stress. The VAS
score is very subjective, and the ANI can be assumed as an objective index. Hence,
a patient who feels strong pain for the first time would state a higher VAS score than
another patient would.
9.6 Looking into the Future of Pain Assessment
As described, there are two main issues in pain and/or stress assessment. First, new
methods for pain/stress computation must be developed, to prove reliability in postoperative care. Second, new measurement methods should be used to improve the
patient’s comfort and treatment in postoperative care.
A frequency analysis or area under curve analysis of all four bands of the HRV
(Fig. 9.9) shows a behavior dependent on pain event. The changes in the signal show
that it could be useful to consider other frequency ranges such as baroreflex for
stress/pain assessment.
Therefore, more analysis should be performed to separate pain and stress assessment using different frequency bands of the HRV. It will be still challenging, because
a painful event triggers a stress reaction too in a test person. Furthermore, not only
the frequency distribution but the type of changes and the pattern during episodes of
stress and/or pain should be analyzed.
Fig. 9.9 Comparison of AUC between the different frequency bands
M. Koeny
Furthermore, the ANS is not only influenced by pain but also by stress. The VAS
score is very subjective, and the ANI can be assumed as an objective index. Hence,
a patient who feels strong pain for the first time would state a higher VAS score than
another patient would.
9.6 Looking into the Future of Pain Assessment
As described, there are two main issues in pain and/or stress assessment. First, new
methods for pain/stress computation must be developed, to prove reliability in postoperative care. Second, new measurement methods should be used to improve the
patient’s comfort and treatment in postoperative care.
A frequency analysis or area under curve analysis of all four bands of the HRV
(Fig. 9.9) shows a behavior dependent on pain event. The changes in the signal show
that it could be useful to consider other frequency ranges such as baroreflex for
stress/pain assessment.
Therefore, more analysis should be performed to separate pain and stress assessment using different frequency bands of the HRV. It will be still challenging, because
a painful event triggers a stress reaction too in a test person. Furthermore, not only
the frequency distribution but the type of changes and the pattern during episodes of
stress and/or pain should be analyzed.
Fig. 9.9 Comparison of AUC between the different frequency bands