*3.4.1 The ladder and the clock*

As mentioned above, not only is it important to ensure adequate analgesia during all phases of hospitalization, but also to choose the most appropriate strategy for the single patient.

The schematic approach in **Figure 4** suggests assessing NRS score of the patient and if it is inferior to 5, is possible to start with a simple intravenous analgesia round the clock at fixed hours. Instead, if NRS is more than 5, is better to choose a stronger approach like a pump or the epidural. So, it would be advisable to involve the anesthesiologist and planning the better strategy for the patient.
