[Perioperative care and treatment of chronic pain in Catalonia, Spain].

Background And Objective: Perioperative care and chronic pain therapy are anesthesia practices that aim to improve patient safety and well-being. The purpose of this arm of the ANESCAT survey of anesthesia practices in Catalonia, Spain, in 2003 was to describe and quantify these 2 services.

Patients And Method: Taking relevant responses to the ANESCAT 2003 questionnaires, we analyzed type of preanesthetic assessment, use of specialized techniques for postoperative analgesia, and provision of postoperative critical care.