Introduction. Pain is an unpleasant sensation in the body. In the case of postoperative pain, it is associated with a damaged tissue. The basic post-operative action is to deal with the pain. It begins with proper monitoring of the pain intensity and then using treatments to relieve the pain. Aim. The aim of the study is to assess postoperative pain after surgical procedures: cholecystectomy and removal of varices of lower limbs by means of grading scales. Material and Methods. The tests were carried out in the surgical department of the “Vivax” medical center in Gniezno. Subjects were tested after removal of the gall bladder (42 patients) and after removal of varices of the lower limbs (40 patients). The study group consisted of patients aged 18 to 75 years. A questionnaire consisting of 8 questions and a grading scale for the assessment of postoperative pain was used to conduct the study. The assessment of pain intensity was monitored immediately after surgery, then after 4, 8 and 12 hours after surgery. Results. The following relationships have been shown: between the assessment of postoperative pain immediately after surgery and gender including the type of surgery; between the assessment of postoperative pain in respective hours after surgery (4, 8, 12 hours) and the type of surgery; between the assessment of postoperative pain immediately after surgery, at the respective hours after surgery (4, 8, 12 hours) and the type of anesthesia used. Conclusions. 1) Pain intensity in patients after surgical procedures increased until 12 hours after surgery and then slightly decreased. 2) The type of anesthesia used had an effect on the intensity of pain. 3) Age, gender and time after surgery had an effect on the intensity of pain.

Key words: postoperative pain, pain assessment.