Abstract
Adina Stern, 52, is in the preholding area of the hospital in preparation for her abdominal hysterectomy this morning. She and her surgeon agreed that she'd have a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for postoperative pain control. Now as she gets ready for her surgery, she asks you if she should have pain medicine before surgery to prevent pain, so she wouldnt need as much medication postoperatively.