I have to complain, first, given how much I **LOVE** Google Answers
that it no seems longer listed as an easy-access "menu" item.  Thank
goodness I know about it already ...but I want it to THRIVE and always
be here!  Anyway, here's my question while the service is still
around:  I'm writing a speech in which I need to refer to
post-operative pain.  I'm wanting to (accurately and honestly)
illustrate how prevalent it is.  It would be a helpful plus to be able
to say how many patients receive IV PCA pain relief each year in the
U.S., but at the very least I'd like to include a statistic on the
PREVALENCE of surgery in the u.s.

I'm not talking about instances like where my dermatologist scrapes a
bit of skin off  my arm as a biopsy. i mean "real" surgeries, in which
a patient would experience serious pain afterward.

This is a more rambly-sounding question than I usually ask ... but
I'll count on Google researcher to ask for clarification if needed.  
p.s. SPEED = appreciated, please!!

Hello again Mike, 

It?s nice to see you again.

Sorry about the delay. Any question with the word "Google" in the
subject line or body of the question are instantly and automatically
locked and be reviewed by the GA editors. The lock is released after a
live person determines it's a question we can answer, and not a
question about the Google Answers service. Google Answers answers
those themselves. Only  a few minutes ago was I able to lock this
question.


?About 20 million Americans undergo surgery with general anesthesia each year.?

July 20, 2005
Los Angeles Times
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05201/540318.stm

Stanford School of Medicine
http://chppcor.stanford.edu/news/gaba_discusses_longterm_risks_of_anesthesia_surgery_in_la_times_article_20050708/


Annually 25 to 30 million patients are anesthetized in the United States.

Source:
FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 
MEDICAL STUDENT ANESTHESIA RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
2006 Host Departments and Projects
http://faer.org/files/FAER_MSARF_2006_Host_Departments.pdf?PHPSESSID=cbb31db42777a2cd1bbf1da383cc0d79
 

?An estimated 20 million patients undergo surgery with general
anesthesia every year in the U.S. alone.?
Aspect Medical
http://www.aspectmedical.com/patients/information/default.mspx


?In the USA alone over 53 million patients undergo surgical procedures
each year. Despite most patients receiving pain medication, 50-75% of
patients report that they experience inadequate pain control
(Datamonitor). Pain is the most commonly reported reason for
readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge or for admission
directly after surgery. There is a substantial opportunity for novel
and innovative medicines to expand and segment this developing
market.?
Vernalis: Post Operative Pain: V1003
http://www.vernalis.com/ver/rdc2/pain/v1003/




?The National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates there are 50 million
cases of chronic pain and 30 million cases of acute and post-operative
pain in the U.S. annually, which cost $100 billion. This market is
expected to grow significantly as the baby boomer generation ages?
Biowave
http://www.biowave.com/market.html


Search terms:
Million Americans surgery
Million surgical procedures United States
Pain surgery Unites States
IV PCA 

We don't know why the Google Answers icon is not on the U.S. More
page, but you can reach Google Answers from here:
://www.google.ca/  . Just click on the ?More? link and you will
find the Google Answers icon.

I hope the information provided is helpful!

Best regards,
Bobbie7

This researcher has never let me down.  Excellent. (I didn't receive
the automatic note from Google to tell me the answer was here, or I
would have responded sooner.)  Thanks, as always!  mike

Hi Mike!

Thank you for the stars and generous tip!

Sincerely, 
Bobbie7