Epidural opioids are widely used in the management of post- operative pain. On the basis of an extensive review of the literature the authors here present their own interpretation of current knowledge of how the distribution and effectiveness of epidurally administered opiods are fundamentally determined. They conclude that all opioids that are currently being used to treat postoperative epidural pain carry the potential risk of severe side effects if the dose regimens are not tailored to the patients individual analgesic need. This book will serve to stimulate new ideas among pain specialistst.

E.MARTIN Acute pain services are now established worldwide and guidelines have been drawn for the management of acute pain resulting from surgical or medical procedures and trauma. However, the treatment of pain after surgery is still inadequate and no progress has been made in recent years in several coun tries, including Germany. There are still innumerable patients who find the is also no early postoperative period to be an unpleasant experience. There doubt that pain plays a role in the pathogenesis of postoperative complica tions that could be avoided with effective pain management. However, concern about side effects and inadequate knowledge of the pharmacokinet ics and -dynamics of drugs is still putting constraints on treatment. An acute pain service should be responsible for adequately treating pain, training medical and nursing staff, and evaluating new and existing methods of treatment. As anesthesiologists deal with pain in the operating theater, it is not surprising that they claim a leading role for themselves in acute pain services choosing from the various postoperative pain treatment options."